Newly elected St. Marys city councilman dies

Danny Riggins, who was elected in November to serve as a St. Marys city councilman, died Sunday. He was 70.

Riggins, who ran for the Post 3 seat, secured his first political victory with 3,551 votes (64%).

“Danny Riggins loved St. Marys,” said Martin Turner, a recently elected Camden County commissioner. “He ran for office so he could be a servant to St. Marys. That’s extremely important, because it’s the truth. He did not want to be a politician, by any means. He simply wanted to be an asset to the city he was raised in.”

Riggins had deep roots in St. Marys. He worked for Gilman Paper Company and White Oak Plantation, and for 17 years, he was co-owner and vice president of Coastal Car Care.

His father, Joe Riggins, served as a St. Marys councilman from 1984-88.

In his bid for office, Riggins weathered a negative campaign from his opponent. But he noted he remained positive.

“That’s the way God made me and that’s the person I am,” Riggins said in November. “I get along with everybody. … I remain open-minded, and I think through being a businessman for 17, 18 years, that has enabled me to be so open-minded across the line.”