Q&A with Ibrahim Abdul-Malik, Hilton Head Town Council candidate

Name: Ibrahim Abdul-Malik

Age: 60

Education: Attended Thomas Nelson Community College, USC Beaufort.

Family: Married to wife Mumtahanah Abdul-Malik for 39 years. Three children.

Office: Town of Hilton Head Council Ward 1

Challenger: Marc Grant

Why are you the right candidate for Town Council?

I will provide proactive leadership verses reactive representation, which is what I believe Ward 1 needs. Because I have not pledged an allegiance to any school of thought, I don’t fear asking any questions that need to be asked to keep the people informed and to always provide transparency to the citizens.

The town is facing an unprecedented shortage of tourism workers. Should the town help? If so, how?

This is a more of an employer issue that a town issue. Employers, should do more to help innocent people to work for them. The major players that hire these tourism workers should think outside the box, instead of going along with the islandwide thought of, paying people as little as possible, and hiring only part-time with no benefits. What would happen if one of the hotels offered to provide no strings attached tuition to potential employees as one of their perks — there would be a waiting list for people to work in their business!

The town has the largest tracks of land that can be used for affordable housing. It could release some of these tracks to potential developers, under the restricted guideline that it would be used to house local workers.

The town should be actively educating the owners of theses business and encourage them to do all they can to create a workplace environment as welcoming for the employees as it is for the guest.

The town is mulling whether to build an arts campus. Should it? Please explain your answer?

Cultural expression is important. A people without culture is like a tree without leaves. Who wants to sit under a tree without leaves — no one! 　

I believe the town should invest more of its resources for cultural development into turning the Mitchelville Project into the “Mitchelville Story".

I am not opposed to an arts campus, but we have a historical, cultural gem in the Mitchelville effort that is being underfunded. The proposed tax increase will provide the Mitchelville Project with $210,000.00 to build a pavilion. It would set aside $6.7 million for the arts campus and $10 million for an expansion of the Recreation Center.

The Mitchelville Project is being given just enough support to keep them dependent. These other efforts are being funded with much more liberty to realize a larger vision! Provide the "Mitchelville Story" with the same degree of latitude.

The town is considering the annexation of Bay Point Island. Do you support this proposal? If so why?

I do not support this proposal. We have issues now that we have to resolve before we can add more to the plate!!

This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Q&A with Ibrahim Abdul-Malik, Hilton Head Town Council candidate."