Growing up in a family dedicated to public service, Tameika Isaac Devine has made it her life’s work to protect people, neighborhoods and our rights.

As an Assistant Attorney General for South Carolina Tameika Isaac Devine fought for women and the most vulnerable victims of domestic violence, crafting legislation and changing laws to protect their rights to justice and safety.

First elected to City Council in 2002, Tameika was the first African-American female elected to Columbia City Council and the first African-American elected at-large. 

As an At-Large representative of Columbia City Council, Tameika Isaac Devine was the first council member to tackle the problems of gangs and preventing youth violence.

In her time with city council, Tameika was affectionately known by her colleagues on council and city staff as the “project” council person.  She is very passionate about empowering citizens to succeed, and dedicated to rolling up her sleeves to implement projects and programs to support those goals.  

During her tenure, Tameika served as co-chair of the Work Initiative Program, a workforce development program that trains unemployed and underemployed citizens in skills allowing them to be immediately employable.  She also spearheaded the restructuring of the city courts and was instrumental in the establishment of the criminal domestic court and the nationally recognized homeless court.

Tameika was also the lead on the city’s recognition of National Youth Violence Prevention week and the American Heart month activities.

Tameika also worked with the city’s community development department to ensure financial stability for all citizens by starting the City’s Bank On program, a program that helps unbanked and underbanked citizens establish a banking relationship and the pilot of the Columbia Kids Save, Children’s savings account program. 

Tameika was known as the councilwoman who listens.  She held monthly open house meetings to hear citizen’s concerns and routinely met with citizens to seek input and engagement of on city issues.  

Tameika’s leadership has been recognized nationally, as she served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the National League of Cities, the Board of Women in Municipal Government, Regional Director of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and State Chair of the South Carolina Chapter of the Democratic Municipal Officials.  

Tameika has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential People of the Midlands by Columbia Business Monthly magazine for multiple years and has been elected 3 times by the readers of the Free Times as the Best City/County Council person.    

A graduate of Spring Valley High School. Tameika Isaac Devine earned her bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and her law degree from USC School of Law. She is a founding partner of the Jabber & Isaac law firm and the founder of the Possibilities Institute, a peak performance public speaking and consulting firm specializing in women’s leadership.  A member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she has also donated her time and talents to help countless boards, non-profit organizations and charitable causes.

A member of Brookland Baptist Church, Tameika is married to Jamie L. Devine, a member of the Richland One Board of School Commissioners and they are the parents of Tamia, Jade, and Jameson. Their son, James Henry, was born into heaven in August 2014.

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