With port project in the spotlight, Port Royal’s mayoral hopefuls will hit debate stage
Port Royal’s candidates for mayor will square off in a debate at the town’s elementary school next Monday — three weeks before the election to decide who will lead the town for the next four years.
Incumbent Joe DeVito is facing a challenge from Councilman Kevin Phillips in the Nov. 7 election for the four-year seat.
The forum comes as Safe Harbor Marina’s redevelopment plans for the Port of Port Royal is coming under additional scrutiny from the town and residents. Issues from housing and marina planning to Safe Harbor’s transparency in their ambitions are all topics of high interest to the approximately 15,000 residents of the town.
The town of Port Royal was derived from Port Royal Sound where the first European explorer was Jean Ribault in 1562.
Town’s biggest project around the corner
Town officials also are preparing a $16 million overhaul of Paris Avenue, the main street through historic downtown, in the largest capital project the town has ever undertaken.
DeVito, a retired utility operator, was elected mayor in the same election after serving on the Planning Board for many years. Phillips, an attorney, was first elected to a council seat in 2019.
Two council positions also are up for election, but they won’t be contested because just two people filed. One of the seats is currently held by Phillips. The other is held by Councilman Jerry Ashmore. Ashmore, the director of workforce development and safety at The Greenery, a landscape contractor, has filed to run for a third term. Also filing for a position on the council is Jorge A. Guerrero. Guerrero, a retired Marine sergeant major, is director of talent management for ERA Evergreen Real Estate Co.
The council candidates will answer questions from 6-6:30. The candidates for mayor will take questions from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The forum, which will be moderated by Ian Scott, president and CEO of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, is at the Port Royal Elementary School, 1214 Paris Ave. It also can be viewed on Facebook or the County Channel.
