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Drew Laughlin was sworn in as Hilton Head Island’s new mayor on Dec. 7 — “Pearl Harbor Day,” he says with a wry smile — and he’s hardly had a minute to idle his engine since.
Though he’s the first to admit that his style isn’t exactly laid-back, the Main Street lawyer says he’s learned enough in office to relax, stay positive and keep his priorities straight about the island’s future.
“It’s all that I expected, though I’m not sure I fully appreciated how much of a demand on my time (the job is),” Laughlin said shortly before heading to a Town Council budget workshop in mid-May. “There’s a lot of ceremonial stuff. There are hundreds of organizations and clubs, and every one has a monthly meeting. They need speakers, and they’re all looking for fresh meat.”
Also in Monthly: Drew Laughlin — The New Guy (Jan. 2011)
As either an appetizer or main entree, Laughlin keeps his days stocked. He has to: The mayor campaigned on holding onto the Heritage; encouraging a vital local economy in financially suffocating times; preserving the island’s unique environment; upgrading existing development and public spaces; updating wireless and Internet services; dredging Harbour Town and South Beach waterways; convincing state leaders to give local governments more home rule and fostering cooperation between local and regional governments for economic growth. (Those last two morsels are the ones Laughlin hopes to throw on the grill this month when Hilton Head hosts the annual convention of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.)
Needless to say, it’s not a short list.
“At this point, there’s not much for the town to do about the golf tournament. We can respond to any requests for support we receive,” he says. “But it’s still a major focus of the town to do whatever we can to help secure the future of the Heritage.”
Still, Laughlin says, these are challenging times, and as the Heritage remains in question and Hilton Head builds out, the island must look to all possible means of keeping its economy strong. “We have to work to provide all the opportunities we can to our residents and visitors, given the fact that in terms of population and density we are pretty close to capacity. And of course we have to continue to respect the environment, the beauty and ambience that have made Hilton Head what it is.”
And, Laughlin continues, while the island’s foundation is built upon the well-being of retirees, second-homeowners and visitors, it must lure young people who are embarking on new careers and starting families. The mayor says one way to do this is to upgrade the island’s built environment — its parks and pathways, commercial centers, cultural facilities and a potential downtown. “A downtown area has always been such an elusive concept for Hilton Head. A lot of people would like to see Coligny redeveloped into something that creates a pedestrian-friendly environment with lots of green space,” he says.
But economic and cultural revitalization goes beyond the ground, Laughlin says, and any such work would have to include an improvement of the town’s wireless infrastructure. That includes such simple goals as better cell phone reception — we’ll give you a moment to pause and nod your head knowingly — and such complicated ones as beefier broadband capabilities.
Elsewhere, Laughlin retains his enthusiasm for updating the town’s regulations on zoning and land management, to make redevelopment kinder for residents, businesses and investors. And he continues to beat the drums for dredging the renowned waterways in Sea Pines. The island’s reputation with large yacht owners and charter boats cannot be overestimated, he said. He’s also pleased at the progress of the town’s two-month-old franchise agreement with Republic Services for trash pickup and recycling. Though the mayor admits to hearing continued grumbling from folks who would prefer to choose their own contractor, he said the initiative is being largely accepted and ties in with the island’s efforts to be environmentally friendly.
“It’s kind of one of those grunge issues; you know you have to have it, and most people don’t care who does it,” he says. “Having one contractor cuts down on the number of trucks, which reduces noise, emissions and wear and tear on roads.”
As the second half of his first year rolls on, Laughlin is encouraging islanders to continue to pitch in with ideas and offers to help move Hilton Head forward. “I’m happy to have a lot of talented people offering their services in guiding the island’s future. We need to encourage people who are expressing their willingness to make substantial investments on the island. We have to continue to look at all of our opportunities: Can we become an arts destination? Can we have a stronger eco-tourism economy, one that offers more in cultural and historical resources?”
Moreover, the mayor asks, can that growth and diversity include more higher education opportunities? Course studies in the hospitality and event management industries, he says, would dovetail nicely with Hilton Head’s suite of premier resorts and hotel properties.
“I would love to see USCB and TCL reestablish their presence on Hilton Head,” Laughlin says.
Still, at the end of the day, the mayor knows that these are challenging times for everyone, and that when all is well, “we don’t always see the opportunities we have to address the future. “Once,” he goes on, “Hilton Head was a new concept. Now, there’s a lot of competition out there, to be spiffier, snazzier and sparklier. With a tough economy we have to look at what we need to do to change. It’s inevitable. If you don’t roll with it, it’s going to roll over you."
