Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling won’t seek re-election
Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling won’t seek another term in November, saying he’s stepping away from public office.
Keyserling, 72, has been mayor since 2008. Prior to that, he served two terms as a state representative and a term on Beaufort City Council.
“We’ve done so much; we’ve accomplished so much,” Keyserling told city council members Tuesday. “It’s time for me to step aside to something else.”
Two council seats and the mayor’s post are open on Nov. 3. Council members Mike McFee and Nan Sutton, whose seats are up, have not yet filed for re-election.
Candidates have until Aug. 14 to file.
Keyserling said he timed his announcement to give other potential mayoral candidates enough time to consider running.
Former councilman Mike Sutton, Nan Sutton’s husband, has filed to run for mayor and is the only candidate as of Wednesday morning, city clerk Ivette Burgess said.
Keyserling advocated for the National Monument to the Reconstruction Era, which then President Barack Obama created in 2017 to mark Beaufort County’s role in the period during and after the Civil War, a time when newly freed African Americans started schools, businesses and participated in government for the first time. The downtown building where the national historical park is headquartered was donated by Keyserling and his family.
The mayor has also been a staunch opponent of offshore drilling during the administrations of Obama and President Donald Trump. He also established a youth leadership program for school-aged children that’s in its sixth year. Most recently Keyserling has implored residents to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic, soliciting donations and distributing free masks from communities along the coast to Charleston.
The City Council is made up of the mayor and four other members elected to four-year terms.
Council members hire and supervise a city manager to direct day-to-day operations — currently Bill Prokop — decide city policies, set priorities and pass an annual budget, among other duties.
Filing fees are $250 for mayor and $200 for council.
Candidate packets are available at City Hall at 1911 Boundary St. or through the city’s website at www.cityofbeaufort.org.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 9:20 AM.
