A member of the Democratic Party, he also served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1968 to 1974 and was the 44th President of the United States Conference of Mayors from 1986 to 1987.

[6] Riley won his eighth term as mayor in November 2003 in the city's first nonpartisan election with 57% of the vote against other candidates including Jimmy Bailey (32%) and Kwadjo Campbell (9%).

[7] When the Confederate battle flag was flown above the South Carolina State House, Riley organized a five-day protest walk from Charleston to Columbia to promote its removal.

[9] The Confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina State House on July 10, 2015, in the aftermath of the Charleston church shooting.

[11] Other annexations during Riley's tenure include Cainhoy Plantation, Long Savannah on Bees Ferry Road, and the Neck Area below North Charleston.

[13] In 1987, Riley supported several projects meant to spur redevelopment, including a visitor center on upper Meeting Street and the Waterfront Park along the Cooper River.

[18] Located on the former Gadsden's Wharf – the site where over 40% of all enslaved Africans brought to this country took their first steps – the museum is a $75MM project with world-class partners Ralph Applebaum & Associates and Pei Cobb Freed.

[20] In the aftermath, the International Association of Fire Fighters criticized Riley for being "anti-labor" and for failing to follow the National Incident Management System despite Governor Mark Sanford previously issuing an executive order to do so.

[21] Under Riley's management, the city of Charleston purchased the land where the Sofa Super Store once stood and made it a passive park.

Riley was friends with several of the victims, including state senator Clementa C. Pinckney and arrived at the scene shortly after being called by the police chief.

Riley worked to implement flood management programs, and released a Sea Level Rise Strategy just before leaving the office.