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Biographical information
- Political affiliation (Republican or Democrat?): N/A
- Education: B.A. Geology, University of Virginia; J.D. with honors, George Washington University
- Professional background: Private practice in Federal Contract Administration and Litigation, '72 to present.
- Public service background: Hilton Head Board of Zoning Appeals, '03 to '09, Vice Chairman
- Family (wife, children, number of grandchildren if applicable): Wife of 42 years, two sons, three step grandchildren.
- Who are your heroes and why? Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, John Glenn, and anyone who stands up for his beliefs and the American way of life.
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Q: The recently released master plan for the Hilton Head Island Airport outlined several options for runway lengthening. In your view, is it necessary to expand the facilities in order for the airport to be viable? If so, what should the limits of such expansion be?
A: Although the answer is easy, the issue is not primary to the Island; a sustainable economy is. My survey of Ward 5 constituents, resulted in more than 500 responses, 95% of whom favored runway expansion. Renowned experts have spoken--extension to 5,400' is necessary for our airport's viability; and a viable airport is a major economic engine to every community. The two stage approach is economically unsupportable, it creates double the delay and drastically increases the cost, while giving the FAA the opportunity to bow out of its 95% financing after the first phase.
Q: There’s been a lot of talk about how to encourage property owners to redevelop or spruce up old buildings. What should the town’s role in that process be?
A: Make town staff friendly and responsive to encourage creativity and aesthetics, while supporting reinvestment. Revise the LMO to modify buffers, setbacks and other restrictions that have hampered redevelopment and reinvestment.
Q: How will you react if the S.C. Attorney General’s Office issues the opinion that Hilton Head Island’s dog leash laws are trumped by a state law that would require dogs to be leashed if on public property, even the beach?
A: If that is the AG's opinion, there are only two choices, (1) ignore it and litigate any effort at enforcement; or (2) comply. If litigation is the chosen option, then dog owners who enjoy the freedom of leashless dogs [at the appropriate dates and time] should first understand that they will be footing the expense.
Q: Do you support off-shore drilling along the South Carolina coast?
A: I have a geology degree, as well as my law degree, and support off-shore drilling on the outer shelf which cannot be seen from shore, subject to test wells justifying the drilling's economic viability. It would generate needed funds for the State and, we should recognize that the only possible benefit from the Gulf disaster is a heightened concern over developing safer drilling.
Q: Some beachfront property owners have complained that trees block their views, causing vacationers to complain about paying a premium for ocean views that are partially obscured. Would you support a process that would allow them to selectively cut trees?
A: After six years on the Town's Board of Zoning Appeals, I know of the inflexibility of the LMO. I would support a simple process for the submission of tree trimming, or even cutting, proposals by each resident for approval by the Town or for suggested modification within a reasonably short time; 30 days appears to be reasonable. If the modification is considered unreasonable to the resident, then Charles Cousins could first quickly consider an appeal, with the BZA then deciding the matter.
Q: Are you in favor of instituting a 1% sales tax to be used by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce for tourism marketing?
A: I am not in favor of a one-percent sales tax increase to go to the Chamber without approval by a voter referendum and the Town exercising its existing annual right to independently audit the Chamber, which right thus far the Town has not been exercising to determine the cost-benefit from the Chamber's activities. The Town must directly oversee the use of its investment in the Chamber and the appointment of a volunteer marketing committee would be a good first step along with the auditing. We cannot depend upon an annual Gulf disaster to cause an up-tick in our visitors. With the 2012 property reassessment based on current depressed values, we and the County are heading for increased property taxes or reduced services, unless we increase revenues.
Q: In the past several years, the South Island Dredging Association has asked the town to help with the dredging of Harbour Town and other Sea Pines-area waterways, a request that could involve financial expenditures. How involved should the town be in dredging efforts?
A: This is a complicated and important issue. The Sea Pines marinas, particularly Harbour Town and South Island clearly benefit the entire Island by attracting visitors and the Heritage. However, the Town cannot afford the potential liability of substantially helping the dredging with funds or management. Further, the Town is not equipped with the expertise to manage the dredging. Any significant effort to fund or manage the dredging could create Town liability for all negative consequences. On the other hand, Sea Pines has floated the possibility of graduated assessments to fund the dredging, those closest would pay more. In addition, while I have not completely researched the question, since Hilton Head Plantation residents can enter Sea Pines free and all Island residents have been able to pay a minimal amount to avoid gate passes without regard the the needed dredging, it would seem reasonable and logical to institute gate fees for these people for a special dredging fund.
Q: Hilton Head has resisted calls to create a lawful employment ordinance that would require all companies to verify that their employees are eligible to work in the United States. Would you support such a law?
A: The State and the County have such a law. I have been advised that creating an independent Town law would only add to small business expenses and detract from business investment. I am not in favor of supporting, encouraging, or granting amnesty to those who have broken the law, but we need to be careful not to further hurt our Island's already jeopardized business community.
Q: What should the town’s role be in encouraging people to recycle?
A: The Town has been financing the General Fund in the past several years by dipping into previously segregated funds. While Recycling is very important to reducing consumption of fuels, it contributes little to our economy and it is unrealistic to expect the Town to finance recycling, not only because of the economy, but also because of the many waste collection companies that operate individually on the Island and are paid by individual home owners and are not controlled by the Town. Encouraging recycling? Yes, we must.Paying for it currently appears to be beyond our means or control. I also have serious misgivings about the legality of legally mandating a hauler recycling monopoly on all Island residents. The Town has a central recycling center and all residents are free to use it. This seems to be the limit of the Town's role.
Q: Describe how the town can make itself friendlier to business and economic development.
A: I have already mentioned three big ways. Extend the Airport to an adequate length to be inviting to corporate visitors and conventions that invest in the Island, provide revenue to sustain our hotels, and support our events and arts; energize the Town staff to be friendly and receptive to innovation and aesthetics without automatically assuming a negative attitude; revise the LMO to modify buffers, setbacks, and other restrictions that deter investment and reinvestment.
