Sam is a Columbia Native University of South Carolina graduate who began his career with SC Representative Anton Gunn. After his time with Rep. Gunn, Sam joined Steve Benjamin’s landmark 2009 campaign for Mayor of Columbia. Following Benjamin’s historic win, Johnson joined the Mayor’s Office where he worked on and helped secure over $1 billion in economic investment for Columbia led a number of important projects initiatives for Mayor Benjamin including My Brother’s Keeper Columbia, the Mayor’s Fellows, the Famously Hot New Year Celebration, the Regional Mayors collaboration and the Bull Street redevelopment project.