From staff reports
Beaufort County Council met Tuesday, Jan. 3, to swear in the 65th County Council.
Master-in-Equity Marvin Dukes swore in the 11-member Council in the Council Chambers. Family members and friends looked on as the newly-elected members and recently re-elected council members placed a hand on the bible and took their oath to uphold the U.S. and S.C. Constitutions and make legislative decisions to the best of their abilities.
“I am excited for 2023. I welcome the new council members that were sworn in this week,” Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway said in a release. “I am fortunate to have served the former County Council and to work with the new County Council to help the residents of Beaufort County.”
Beaufort County Council is an elected body responsible for passing ordinances, setting County policies, and developing an annual budget for the administration of public services to citizens. The Chairman is elected to a two-year term by Council at the first meeting in January following a general election. The Vice Chairman is charged with carrying out the duties of the Chairman in their absence.
Chairman and Vice Chairman selected
Once sworn in, Council voted for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman positions. Joe Passiment (District 5) was re-elected Chairman for a full two-year term. Larry McElynn (District 10) was elected to be Vice-Chairman.
New Council Members
Passiment, McElynn, York Glover (District 3), Alice Howard (District 4), Gerald Dawson (District 1), Mark Lawson (District 9), and Logan Cunningham (District 7) are joined by newly elected members:
David Bartholomew (District 2): A Charleston School of Law graduate, Council Member Bartholomew is an attorney with Schiller and Hamilton. His priorities are government overreach, managing controlled growth, and affordable housing. Bartholomew sits on Finance, Administration, and Economic Development and Public Facility and Safety committees.
Tab Tabernik (District 6): A lifelong educator, Tabernik most recently served as Chair of the Beaufort County Library Board of Trustees. With an emphasis on public service, her priorities while serving on Council are transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Tabernik sits on Finance, Administration, and Economic Development and Public Facility and Safety committees.
Paula Brown (District 8): Brown has said her concerns will be affordable housing, higher-paying jobs, and safe roads. She will also focus on affordable workforce housing – with current employee shortages all over the County, the high cost of living just adds to the issue. Brown is also concerned with better enforcement of traffic laws, more traffic cameras to help law enforcement, and increased fines and penalties. She sits on Community Services, Land Use, and Public Facility and Safety committees.
Tom Reitz (District 11): A business development manager as a profession, Reitz states that his strengths are finding transparent communication and building consensus and relationships. Affordable workforce housing and higher-paying jobs are a priority, and he believes they will strengthen the County. Reitz sits on Community Services and Land Use and Public Facility and Safety committees.
Council members establish Committee assignments
– Community Services and Land Use (formerly Community Services and Natural Resources Committees) meets on the second Monday of the Month
Chair: Alice Howard
Vice Chair: York Glover
Member: Paula Brown
Member: Tom Reitz
Member: Gerald Dawson
Ex-Officio: Joe Passiment
– Finance, Administration, and Economic Development (formerly Finance and Executive Committees) third Monday of the Month (Tuesday when it falls on a Federal Holidays)
Chair: Mark Lawson
Vice Chair: Tab Tabernik
Member: David Bartholomew
Member: Gerald Dawson
Member: York Glover
Ex-Officio: Joe Passiment
– Public Facility and Safety (formerly Public Facilities and Community Service Committees) 4th Monday of the Month
Chair: Logan Cunningham
Vice Chair: David Bartholomew
Member: Tom Reitz
Member: Paula Brown
Member: Tab Tabernik
Ex-Officio: Joe Passiment
