Newcomer withdraws from Hilton Head Ward 4 council race, leaving 1 name on ballot

Days after the filing deadline for Hilton Head Town Council candidates, a newcomer has withdrawn from the race.

Lennel Stroud, a Leamington resident, told the Island Packet on Monday that she is no longer running to represent Ward 4 on Town Council.

“I’m withdrawing because of personal reasons, which would prevent me from giving my all to the Council if chosen,” Stroud said in a news release.

With Stroud’s withdrawal, Tamara Becker will be running unopposed for the ward, but Becker does not automatically win the council seat. Becker’s name will still appear on the ballot with the option for a write-in, according to Marie Smalls, director of the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County.

Ward 4 includes portions of the mid and south end of the island, including Indigo Run and Palmetto Dunes. The ward currently is represented by Kim Likins, who is running for mayor.

Stroud, 62, moved to the island in 2005 after spending most of her life in Virginia, where she was a realtor. She had never been on Town Council or served on town committees, but she said she wanted cut down on wasteful spending.

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.

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. Tamara Becker has 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.

This story was originally published August 2, 2018 at 11:11 AM.