Newcomers Wood, Lutz win seats on Bluffton Town Council
A major shakeup is coming to the Bluffton town council as two new members were elected in Tuesday's runoff election.
Challengers Dan Wood and Harry Lutz defeated incumbent Ted Huffman.
Wood, who recently retired from a management position at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, received 723 votes, according to unofficial results from the Beaufort County Board of Elections.
Lutz, a managing partner with Harbor Light Insurance, won 624 votes.
Huffman trailed with 483 votes.
Wood and Lutz will each serve four-year terms.
Tuesday's decision puts to rest this year's municipal election in Bluffton.
Mayor Lisa Sulka won re-election earlier this month, defeating challenger Cynthia Bensch.
"I'm exhausted, but it's an honor and pleasure" to win a seat on the council, Wood said Tuesday night after the results were announced.
Lutz credited strong support from his neighborhood, Hampton Hall, for propelling him to victory.
"Hampton Hall came out big for me, and I really appreciate that," he said.
While precinct-level data was not available Tuesday evening, early reports from polling locations suggest turnout from the Hampton Hall neighborhood was relatively high.
Precinct 4D, which includes much of Hampton Hall, played a critical role in getting Lutz into the runoff.
He won more votes there in the general election than both Wood and Huffman combined.
Huffman was humble in defeat, congratulating his competitors and saying he is proud of the work he has done on the council.
"I have a whole lot respect for the process, but to say I'm disappointed is an understatement," he said.
Turnout in Tuesday's runoff was 9.5 percent, compared to about 16 percent for the general election earlier this month.
Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.
Related content:
- What you need to know about Bluffton's town council runoff, Nov. 13, 2015
- Bluffton council candidates stress unity between Old Town and newer neighborhoods, Nov. 14, 2015
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 7:16 AM with the headline "Newcomers Wood, Lutz win seats on Bluffton Town Council."