Will Hilton Head Mayor David Bennett seek a second term in 2018?

Observers of Hilton Head Island Town Hall have whispered throughout the year that Mayor David Bennett already has ruled out a re-election bid in 2018.

Last week Bennett dodged those rumors, saying he hasn't considered whether a bid for a second term is in the cards.

But he hopes he has taken on a series of goals that will outlive any one mayor.

"I'm going to move things along the best way I know how to," he said. "I'm going to try to structure them as such that they are self-sustaining. The rest will take care of itself."

One term is not unusual for Hilton Head Island mayors.

Of Bennett's eight predecessors, only Tom Peeples served more than one term in office -- from 1995 to 2010, when he chose not to run for re-election. Four others ran for re-election and lost, including Drew Laughlin, whom Bennett defeated in a run-off election last year.

Long-time residents and local political observes say they have no clue why island residents are hesitant to give most mayors a second term.

In Bennett's case, it's just too soon to know what the future holds, said Tom Gardo, one of the mayor's advisors, noting that Bennett has three more years on his current term.

"He's not even thinking about a second term," Gardo said. "Three years is a long time, and a lot can change in life by then."

Follow reporter Zach Murdock on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Zach and on Facebook at facebook.com/IPBGZach.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Will Hilton Head Mayor David Bennett seek a second term in 2018?."