Beaufort councilman Stephen Murray adds name to mayoral race
Two familiar names have joined the race to replace outgoing Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling.
Beaufort City Councilman Stephen Murray filed his candidacy Friday. He joins former council member Mike Sutton in an election that could change the makeup of the city’s policy-making body.
Murray, a 39-year-old business owner and entrepreneur, was elected to the council in 2014. He said he decided to run for mayor after Keyserling announced he wouldn’t seek a third term.
“That opened the question of who’s next,” Murray said. “I tried to objectively ask myself who is the best to lead the city into this next decade. And considering the issues we have and the opportunity we have in the city of Beaufort, I believe I’m the best person to serve as the next mayor of the city.”
As a council member, Murray has served on the Redevelopment Commission and as chairman of the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation.
Sutton, 61 and a building contractor, served on the city council from 2006-2014. He stepped aside after two terms, citing a belief in term limits.
Sutton has served on various boards and commissions, most recently the city Redevelopment Commission and a city task force to select a new downtown marina operator.
“There’s some unfinished business in the city that needs to continue, and I want to make sure it happens,” Sutton said. “I’ve still got a little civic life left in me.”
His wife, downtown business owner Nan Sutton, won a council seat in 2016.
In addition to the mayoral election, two council seats are up for grabs in the at-large election on Nov. 3. Mike McFee and Nan Sutton, who occupy the seats, have not indicated whether they will seek re-election.
Beaufort native Neil Lipsitz submitted a filing statement Monday to become the first candidate for one of the City Council openings.
Keyserling, 72, announced last week he wouldn’t seek a fourth term after 12 years as mayor.
Filing deadline for the mayor and council seats is Aug. 14. The five-member City Council is elected at large and serves staggered, four-year terms.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 11:25 AM.
