Hilton Head Island Packet Logo

Hilton Head Mayor David Bennett not running for re-election. 3 others file last minute | Hilton Head Island Packet

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Contact Us
    • eEdition
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • Contests
    • About Us
    • Sponsorships
    • News
    • Beaufort Gazette
    • Bluffton Packet
    • Special Reports
    • Databases
    • Local
    • South Carolina
    • Traffic
    • Crime & Public Safety
    • Business
    • Politics & Elections
    • Military
    • Nation & World
    • Professional Opinion
    • Lottery Results
    • Blog: Untamed Lowcountry
    • Sports
    • College
    • Golf
    • RBC Heritage
    • Recreation
    • High School
    • MLB
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • Outdoors
    • Columnists
    • Jeff Shain
    • Cast & Blast
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Technology
    • Full Stock Listings
    • Market Summaries
    • Mutual Funds
    • Treasury Rates
    • New Employee/Promotion Form
    • New Business Owner Form
    • Living
    • Celebrations
    • Religion
    • Food & Drink
    • Family
    • Outdoors
    • Holidays
    • Columnists
    • Lowcountry Gardening
    • Made With Love
    • Faith in Action
    • Entertainment
    • Arts & Culture
    • Local Events
    • Holidays & Seasonal
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Columnists
    • Mindy Lucas
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Other Views
    • Readers Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • National Voices
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Columnists
    • David Lauderdale
    • Liz Farrell
  • Obituaries

    • Classifieds
    • Legal Notices
  • Special Sections
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Local

Hilton Head Mayor David Bennett not running for re-election. 3 others file last minute

By Katherine Kokal and

Mandy Matney

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 15, 2018 11:48 AM

The Town of Hilton Head Island’s mayor waited until the last possible hour Wednesday to announce that he will not run for re-election.

David Bennett had not publicly said whether he planned to seek another term to lead Hilton Head until 11:27 a.m. Wednesday, just before the noon filing deadline, when he made his announcement through his newsletter.

“It has been an incredible honor and privilege to represent you as Mayor of the Town of Hilton Head Island these past four years,” he said in the newsletter.

“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity. After much careful consideration, prayerful reflection and deliberation, I do not intend to seek re-election.”

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Island Packet

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Bennett, elected in 2014, has been at odds with Town Manager Steve Riley since nearly the beginning. The feud between the leaders created a common split on Town Council, with John McCann, Bill Harkins, Tom Lennox and Marc Grant voting one way, and Bennett, David Ames and Kim Likins voting another.

When Hurricane Matthew devastated the island in 2016, Bennett was highly criticized for staying on vacation in Orlando for multiple days rather than immediately returning to the Lowcountry to lead emergency operations from the ground, as Bluffton, Beaufort and Savannah mayors had done.

During his time as mayor, Bennett pushed to create a clear “vision” for Hilton Head’s future, with projects including improving and preserving historic Mitchelville, expanding the airport runway and providing sewer access to many northern islanders.

He said his time as mayor has been challenging, particularly “balancing the needs and demands of the mayor’s office, our private business” and time with his family.

“My family, in particular, has sacrificed much in order for me to fulfill my commitment to Hilton Head Island,” he said in the newsletter. “Continuing to serve would not allow me to fulfill my highest responsibilities — being a good husband and father.”

Of Bennett’s eight predecessors, only Tom Peeples served more than one term in office —from 1995 to 2010.

Peeples was seeking another term this year, but pulled out of the race Monday.

Four other former mayors ran for re-election and lost, including Drew Laughlin, whom Bennett defeated in a run-off election.

Seven mayoral candidates were in the race as of the filing deadline on Wednesday at noon:

  • Town Council member John McCann
  • Native islander Rochelle Williams
  • Holocaust revisionist Michael Santomauro
  • Hilton Head resident and waiter Sandon Preston
  • Real estate broker Barry Ginn
  • Sales Manager at SunTrust Bank Alan Perry, who originally posted on Facebook that he was running for the Ward 2 council seat, then changed his mind to file for mayor.
  • Town Council member Kim Likins, who currently represents Ward 4 and had not previously announced her intention to run.

The Island Packet will continue to post updates on today’s candidate filings.

The mayoral election will be held on Nov. 6.

Council seats for Ward 2, Ward 4 and Ward 5 are also up for grabs.

  • Ward 2 is composed of portions of the north end of the island, including parts of Hilton Head Plantation. Bill Harkins is the ward’s current representative and has filed to run again. Tim Ridge filed late Wednesday to represent the ward.
  • Ward 4 is composed of portions of the mid and south end of the island, including Indigo Run and Palmetto Dunes. Kim Likins currently represents the ward and filed to run for mayor. Lennel Stroud and Tamara Becker have filed to represent this ward.
  • Ward 5 covers the south end of the island. Thomas Lennox currently represents the area and is running again. Richard Dextraze and Patsy Brison have also filed to represent the ward.

  Comments  

Videos

Video shows river otter swimming, playing in Bluffton pond. It even caught its lunch

Solicitor says why deputies won’t be charged in death of Beaufort County man

View More Video

Trending Stories

Marine Corps hero you never heard of sets history straight on Hilton Head

February 18, 2019 07:28 AM

Brace yourself: Beaufort Co. is close to the country’s second-highest ‘pollen hot spot’

February 18, 2019 09:42 AM

Start work now on U.S. 278 at Windmill Harbour

February 17, 2019 06:00 AM

New lane closures, traffic delays for Hilton Head’s south end. Here’s where and when

February 18, 2019 09:00 AM

DNA testing needed to identify mystery animal that attacked and killed NC teacher

February 18, 2019 07:37 AM

Read Next

Marine Corps hero you never heard of sets history straight on Hilton Head

David Lauderdale

Marine Corps hero you never heard of sets history straight on Hilton Head

By David Lauderdale

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 18, 2019 07:28 AM

Almost 75 years after the late USMC Staff Sgt. Willie Lee Whittaker joined the Marine Corps, his fight against American racism and foreign enemies in the Pacific, Korea and Vietnam is recognized with Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Hilton Head SC

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Island Packet

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LOCAL

Untamed Lowcountry

Brace yourself: Beaufort Co. is close to the country’s second-highest ‘pollen hot spot’

February 18, 2019 09:42 AM
New lane closures, traffic delays for Hilton Head’s south end. Here’s where and when

Traffic

New lane closures, traffic delays for Hilton Head’s south end. Here’s where and when

February 18, 2019 09:00 AM

Death Notices

Arlene Brown

February 17, 2019 04:38 PM

Death Notices

Darrold Trueper

February 17, 2019 04:38 PM
Beaufort man charged in 2017 murders of St. Helena man and his nephew, official says

Crime & Public Safety

Beaufort man charged in 2017 murders of St. Helena man and his nephew, official says

February 16, 2019 12:27 PM
Beaufort County teen’s funeral transforms grief into a celebration of God and hope

Crime & Public Safety

Beaufort County teen’s funeral transforms grief into a celebration of God and hope

February 16, 2019 06:14 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Hilton Head Island Packet App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Special Sections
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story