Election will create a less-experienced Beaufort County Council, regardless of the winners

One thing is certain about the upcoming election for Beaufort County Council — the council will have a lot of new faces.

And those faces will be new to local politics as well. More than a third of the newest iteration of the County Council will feature members holding elected office for the first time.

Current District 4 Councilwoman Alice Howard, who is running unopposed for reelection, said there is a lot to learn in the first year on the County Council.

“I always compared it to being a freshman in college when you think you know everything and then you get into college and realize you don’t know much,” said Howard. “I had been on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission for the city of Beaufort, so I felt like I knew what I was getting into, but it’s a lot different being on the County Council.”

Howard said new council members should be prepared to do lots of reading and not to expect things to be done faster than what’s realistic.

Four seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 8 election, with one of them uncontested.

Two longtime council members — Stu Rodman in District 11 and Paul Sommerville in District 2 — were defeated during the Republican primary in June. Chris Hervochon of District 8 did not seek reelection, and Council Chair Joe Passiment changed districts, from 6 to 5, due to redistricting, creating a wide open path in those four districts.

The uncontested candidate in district 8, Paula Brown, will join Howard as the second woman on the council. However, it’s possible for all four open seats to be occupied by women, which would increase the female representation on the council from one to five.

“I think women always bring a different look to things whether they mean to or not,” said Howard. “And I think that’d be good for us to have more perspectives even though we might not have the same views.”

‘Fresh eyes and perspective’

In District 2, David Bartholomew, a lawyer with Schiller & Hamilton, faces Marilyn Harris, who served as an investigator for the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee and as a policymaker for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs before working in Beaufort County schools.

Bartholomew, the Republican candidate, said one of the reasons he decided to run was to better provide legal context to the council.

“I really saw some broad misinterpretations of well-established law taking place not just on the county level but throughout the state and country, ‘‘ said Bartholomew. “With my legal background, I know I can help shed some light on those things about what we can and can’t be doing.”

Along with her work in schools, Harris, the Democrat, served on various boards and committees in the county, which she said provided her with many applicable skills.

“I wanted to find a way that I could serve the larger community using the skill set that I had gained from just working, living and serving in this county,” said Harris. “And so the natural next step was to run for county council.”

Both feel that being new to the council will be a benefit.

“I really think I’ll be able to bring some new ideas, fresh eyes and perspective, to the county council and hopefully they’ll incorporate those ideas,” said Bartholomew

“I don’t care what that position is, you’re going to have a learning curve,” said Harris. “But, I see being a newcomer as an asset, because I’m bringing a fresh new approach, I’m bringing a fresh perspective and I’m bringing new ideas.”

District 2 encompasses the Marine Corps Air Station, the Northeastern part of the city of Beaufort, Lady’s Island, Coosaw Island, Judge Island, Dataw Island, Oak Island, Morgan Island, Pine Island, Harbor Island, Hunting Island, Fripp Island, Pritchards Island and Capers Island.

In District 6, Tab Tabernik, a retired educator, is running against Alphonso Small Jr.

Tabernik described herself as the “eternal volunteer” since moving to Beaufort County in 2011. When redistricting left her district open, she jumped on the opportunity to run for the council.

“I don’t work, I just have given back to the community,” said Tabernik. “I thought this would be a great extension of my volunteer activities.”

Republican Tabernik is hoping to be a fresh voice on the council.

“I’m coming in as a newbie,” said Tabernik. “And I’m from the education world, so I believe in educating people, listening to people.”

Tabernik has served as chair of Beaufort Library Board of Trustees and sat on boards like the Sun City Hilton Head Board of Directors.

Small, the Democratic candidate, did not respond to emails or phone calls from the Island Packet and did not return a questionnaire sent to all candidates.

District 6 contains Sun City, Berkeley Hall, Eagles Pointe and Oldfield.

Running unopposed for District 8 is Republican Paula Brown, a retired paralegal. Unless a write-in were to garner more votes, which is unlikely, Brown is guaranteed to be representing District 8 in January.

District 8 includes Hilton Head Plantation, Pinckney Island, Windmill Harbor, Buckingham Plantation, Moss Creek, Colleton River Plantation, the Crescent and Belfair.

A new breed of council

Tom Reitz, a business development manager at Earth Supplied Products, is running against Cathy McClellan, a retired judge and law professor who ran against Larry McElynn in 2018 before redistricting put her in District 11.

District 11 includes Hilton Head.

Reitz, a Republican, decided to run for the council on a platform focused on better cooperation and communication between local governments and and communities.

“I feel that we have an incredible amount of good people here and if we work together, we can protect and preserve what we’d love.”

He has high hopes for the new council members joining in January.

“I think you’re gonna see some incredible things from this current new breed, new group coming in, that are going to work together really well,” said Reitz. “And I think it’s going to shock a lot of people.”

McClellan, a Democrat, wants to join the council to continue her public service after retirement.

“I really believe in helping people, ‘‘ said McClellan. “I want to be someone who can make a difference in people’s lives.”

McClellan said she’s excited for the opportunity to learn about her potential role as councilwoman, even if she has a lot to learn.

“I think that learning is a lifelong endeavor, it’s a journey,” said McClellan. “And I’m still on that journey.”