HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Three Hilton Head Island mayoral candidates traded sharp exchanges Thursday at a League of Women Voters forum, with the sharpest clash landing on the town-backed Island Jam festival and questions about conflicts of interest.
Incumbent Mayor Alan Perry, challenger Dave Ferguson and Palmer Simmons fielded questions on beach parking, policing and tourism at Christ Lutheran Church. Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 19, ahead of the Nov. 3 ballot. The job pays $37,000 a year and covers a town of roughly 38,000 residents for a four-year term.
Ferguson accused Perry of nepotism tied to Island Jam, saying town support has topped about $950,000 across three years and that organizers include the mayor’s brother Reid Perry of the Island Recreation Association. Perry denied that any relative sought or received money and called the charge unfounded.
The forum also touched new land-use rules meant to protect the environment and limit higher-density growth, plus policing changes discussed after a July 4 beach shooting. Ferguson argued the town sometimes conserves land in one place while allowing heavy development elsewhere.
Official town election notices say the Nov. 3 municipal ballot includes the mayor’s race plus council seats in Wards 2, 4 and 5. Ferguson, 64, of Shipyard is a retired executive; Perry, 61, of Hilton Head Plantation works in mortgage lending; Simmons, 70, of Spanish Wells stepped back from a dump-truck leasing firm now run by his son.
Filed under: Hilton Head Island SC Politics News
