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Mike Raymond, who formerly worked as an engineer in the town's Department of Environmental Protection, captured more than 35 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from the county Board of Voter Registration and Elections.
Incumbent Oliver Brown earned 33 percent of the vote and held a 29-vote advantage over another incumbent, Charlie Wetmore.
"I know what's going on in every active development project in our town and I'm well aware of the drainage and pollution problems in our rivers," said Raymond, 58, who now works in advertising sales at the Bluffton Breeze and pledged to make the environment his top priority. "I wanted to serve and I thought I could help council because of specialized experience."
Turnout was low -- about 10.4 percent of registered voters went to the polls for municipal elections in Bluffton and the town of Port Royal, according to data provided on the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Web site.
Brown, 56, a maintenance engineer for the S.C. Department of Transportation, retained the seat he won in a March 2008 special election. He had said his goals include bringing environmentally sound businesses to town to create jobs and tax revenue. He said creating jobs could help keep young adults in the area after graduation.
"I think it's critical now to invite businesses to enhance our economy," Brown said Tuesday night. "But it's also important that we keep up with our growth so we don't do any more harm to our precious environment. That's always in the forefront of what we do."
Attempts to reach Wetmore, 43, for comment Tuesday night were unsuccessful. He was first elected to the council in 2007.
Absentee and provisional ballots will be counted at the county canvass hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday at the elections office at 15 John Galt Road.The council members' terms begin Jan. 1.
