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The candidates, Lisa Sulka and Charlie Wetmore, who are running for mayor; and Jeff Fulgham, Fred Hamilton, Allyne Mitchell and Normand "Gus" Thomas, who are battling for two council seats, were, for the most part, cordial in front of an audience of about 50 people.
They all agreed in principle that:
• Developments should include sidewalks or other walking paths.
• Efforts to curtail illegal immigration should not be addressed by the town, but by other bodies, like the county, state and federal governments.
• Bluffton needs to address affordable housing.
• The town's budget, projected to have a $1.7 million shortfall in operating expenses, needs to be reined in.
One of the few issues where candidates differed was how to approach certain aspects of growth. That issue arose out of questions over a town council vote earlier this month to deny annexing 235 acres of land on both sides of the Okatie River into the town. That vote ended in a tie, killing the plan for now.
At Monday's forum, mayoral candidate Wetmore, who currently is a town councilman, said the project, which called for 705 homes on 90 acres, was not worth wasting six months of staff time on.
Wetmore voted against the proposal, even though the vote would only have directed town staff to work with the developers to refine the project.
His opponent, Sulka, also currently a member of the town council, voted for continuing discussion with developers.
Sulka said it made sense to look at the project because that land is part of the town's planned annexation area.
Hamilton, who is running for re-election on the town council, also voted in favor of continuing that discussion with the developers.
He said one of the reasons the town faces a budget crunch is because there isn't development creating new revenue, so the town needs to hear developers out.
"Just because a developer proposes something doesn't mean that's what they get," he said.
Council candidate Mitchell agreed that having discussions with the developers would have been appropriate.
Town council candidates Fulgham and Thomas said they don't support using town resources on a plan that seems like a poor fit for Bluffton.
The only heated moment of the night came when Hamilton was asked what he meant when he previously said he didn't want "the new people telling old town what to do."
Hamilton said it was a quote taken out of context and that, as a member of the town's Planning Commission, he had a hand in the creation of many Bluffton developments.
Thomas said Hamilton failed to represent the whole town when it came to development. Thomas said residents should be able to vote on whether the size of the council should be increased and divided into wards so each council member represents only their ward.
Council members are elected "at-large" and represent the whole town.
Hamilton accused Thomas of launching a personal attack. Sulka and Mitchell then defended Hamilton's work as a council member.
