Port Royal mayoral, council slates set for Nov. 3 election: Who will you choose?
Longtime Port Royal Mayor Sam Murray will have competition for the first time in more than a decade as he tries to earn a final term in the Nov. 3 election.
Three other candidates filed for Murray's seat: Kristina Wetzel, John Winner and Chuck Wood.
For Town Council, Jerry Ashmore, Darryl Owens, Lisa Redwine and incumbent Tom Klein will run for two open seats.
Councilman Joe Lee, whose seat is up for election, will not seek another term.
The 75-year-old Murray, who has been mayor 20 years, said he wants to see the sale of the Port of Port Royal become a reality. The property is a popular talking point among candidates.
"Since I've been working with it so long, I'm hoping I can see it through," said Murray, a retired school principal who has lived in Port Royal since 1966.
The property is under contract with Palmetto Alliance Property Group, which has through October to complete due diligence.
The S.C. State Ports Authority has until the end of the year to sell the property before it goes to auction. The sale and development of the property will no doubt again be a campaign topic in the coming weeks.
Here are the candidates in the Nov. 3 election:
MAYOR
Sam Murray
Age: 75
Notable experience: Mayor since 1995; past town council member; retired educator; Port Royal resident since 1966
Platform: Develop the port property, suppress property taxes, attract new business and jobs
Quote: "Hopefully we can get (the Port of Port Royal) sold and under development. That's one of my main goals right now. Since I've been working with it so long, I'm hoping I can see it through."
Kristina Wetzel
Age: 54
Notable experience: Leadership Beaufort Class of 2015; former corporate helicopter pilot; Beaufort County Animal Services volunteer; Port Royal resident for four years
Platform: Infill in the Old Village, maintaining Port Royal's unique character, embracing the statewide solar power initiative
Quote: "The development of the port gives our town a tremendous gem for the future. But until that chain link fence comes down and I see the first piece of construction equipment at the end of Paris Avenue, I'll be concentrating on the issues our citizens and businesses face right now."
John Winner
Age: 51
Notable experience: Former owner of Suwan Thai restaurant on Paris Avenue; Port Royal resident for eight years
Platform: Foster a business-friendly environment, listen to residents to identify concerns
Quote: "I know how to do business in Port Royal ... . If I was to be mayor, that's only one seat in the town council, so I have to be able to convince and talk to people in a way that we can get things done."
Chuck Wood
Age: 60
Notable experience: Maintenance supervisor at Naval Hospital Beaufort; past town council candidate; Port Royal resident since 1984
Platform: Improve roads and stormwater infrastructure, beautify the town, listen to residents and receive feedback
Quote: "Without (infrastructure), nobody would be interested in doing anything in the town"
TOWN COUNCIL
Jerry Ashmore
Age: 49
Notable experience: Past member of Port Royal Redevelopment Commission; Beaufort Regional Chamber board of directors; city of Beaufort Design Review Board; director of workforce development at The Greenery; Port Royal resident 15 years
Platform: Sell the port, improve aging infrastructure, maintain town's natural beauty
Quote: (On the Port of Port Royal) "I think this is a defining moment in Port Royal. We've got one shot to do it right, and I want to be part of that."
Tom Klein
Age: 59
Notable experience: Town Council since 2011; Port Royal Redevelopment Commission; past vice president and current member of the Historic Port Royal Foundation; Port Royal Elementary School Improvement Committee; Port Royal resident for six years
Platform: Keeping a watchful eye on state funding to ensure town gets what it needs, sale and progress with the port, knowing the town's history, supporting the town shrimp docks
Quote: (On the port) "I owed it to the residents of the town to stick to it and get something done in the next year."
Darryl Owens
Age: 49
Notable experience: current Zoning Board of Appeals member, past member of Design Review Board; Metropolitan Planning Commission; past president of Jasper Rotary Club; chief of operations for Jasper County School District; Port Royal resident for 19 years
Platform: Recruit business, enhance a pedestrian-friendly community, sell the port property
Quote: "Port Royal is a great place to be; it's a great town to live in. I'm looking forward to the future and to build upon what has been laid out prior."
Lisa Redwine
Age: 54
Notable experience: Parks and Recreation Commission member; sports and aquatics director Wardle Family YMCA; retired U.S. Navy; Port Royal resident for two years
Platform: Control growth as the port is developed, preserve the town's history, maintain the family friendly character
Quote: "We're going to have a lot of businesses vying for our attention, so it's going to be important that growth be carefully monitored. We are definitely a family-focused little town -- a well-kept secret."
Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.
This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Port Royal mayoral, council slates set for Nov. 3 election: Who will you choose?."