Crowded field: 20 candidates enter Beaufort County Council race
With the filing period closed as of 12 p.m. Monday, the Beaufort County Council race is officially set, and the collection of leaders sitting behind the dais could look markedly different next year.
Several council members will not seek reelection, and 15 new candidates are entering the race.
Current and former leaders of the council, including Chair Alice Howard, former Chair Joseph Passiment and former Vice Chair Larry McEllyn, will not be returning to council after their terms expire at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, District 1’s Gerald Dawson, District 3’s York Glover and District 7’s Logan Cunningham will continue serving through 2028, while District 2 Councilman David Bartholomew will run unopposed.
Cunningham has also joined a crowded field of candidates running for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat, following Rep. Nancy Mace’s bid for governor.
The following candidates are running for Beaufort County Council, according to their filing forms with the state. Bolded names represent current council members:
- From District 2: David Bartholomew (R)
- From District 4: Michael J.D. Andersen (R) and Thomas A Grygowski (R)
- From District 5: Joshua Hower (R), Joe Maiorano (R), Mary Jeans Otto (R) and Lynn Gerson (D)
- From District 6: Tab Tabernik (R) and Carolyn Fournier (D)
- From District 8: Paula Brown (R), Kraig Gordon (R), Bill Beltz (D) and Trey Judy (D)
- From District 9: Mark Lawson (R), Beth Gillespie (R) and Jannine Mutterer (D)
- From District 10: John Casey (R) and Travis Ludwig-Hodges (D)
- From District 11: Tom Reitz (R) and Elizabeth Libby Galloway-Dextraze (R)
The primary election for county contests will be held on June 9, and the general election will be held Nov. 3, according to the Beaufort County Board of Elections.
