By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The Old Commons Neighborhood Association (OCNA) held a forum for the four candidates for Beaufort City Council – Julie Crenshaw, Josh Gibson, incumbent Neil Lisitz and incumbent Mitch Mitchell.
Each candidate was given six to seven minutes total to discuss what made them run for Beaufort City Council, what they see as the most important and challenging issues facing the City, what uniuue quality they bring to the City Council and anything else they might want us to know about them.
The floor was then opened up for questions.
Crenshaw said she wanted to bring new energy, perspective and strength to the council and wanted to be the “voice of the community.”
She said she would listen to the people and get the people more involved, and she promised, “I will always keep my eye on the ball.”
Gibson wants to invert the relationship Council has with Beaufort’s citizens right now.
“Solutions for the problems don’t come from high to the citzens, but from the citizens up to the city,” he said.
Mitchell insisted that they all, the candidates and the citizens, have more in common than they do differences. He said he had true sincerity in serving the citizens of the City.
And he said that while the people may not always agree with what he does, “when we disagree, we don’t be disagreeable.”
Lipsitz said his strength is something some people consider a weakness. He said he comes at every issue with an open mind. He wants to understand both sides of the issue, even if it appears he’s on the fence while looking for middle ground.
Lipsitz praised Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s PATH program, which has brought more nurses to Beaufort He also wants to see the Marine Science program at USC Beaufort “flourish.”
“It has the opportunity to be one of the best in the nation,” he said.
Crenshaw touted her ability to be a team player and voiced her desire that the Council be collaborative with one voice. She said she would be transparent, honest and hard-working.
Gibson wants to be sure the Beaufort he loves and knows doesn’t slip away from us. He ses the Council’s task as “preserving the Beaufort we all fell in love with.”
He reiterated that the only real differences he and the others on stage have is about policy, not about their goals.
Mitchell said everyone wants to slow growth, but the key is actually managing it so as to have “environmentally safe economic growth.”
He also said that growth would increase the need to improved infrastructure and services, which means taxes.
Lipsitz touted the City’s success with Southside Park and said the City could be doing more “good things” if it wasn’t having to defend itself from “frivolous lawsuits.”
What’s next?
From 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, the Northwest Quadrant Neighborhood Association (NWQNA) will host a “City of Beaufort Mayoral Candidates Night” at the Charles Lind Brown Community Center at 1001 Hamar Street.
Then, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, the Old Commons Neighborhood Association (OCNA) will host its Ice Cream Social along with “Meet The Candidates Night” for City of Beaufort Mayor, County Council District 3, and S.C. House District 124 candidates at the Wesley United Methodist Church Education Building. The four City Council candidates have been invited, as well.
On Monday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum at the USC Beaufort Center For The Arts at 805 Carteret Street. There will be seperate forums for County candidates, City Council candidates and Mayor candidates.
And finally, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, the NWQNA will host City of Beaufort City Council Candidates Night at the Charles Lind Brown Community Center at 1001 Hamar Street.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
