Hilton Head Monthly Magazine

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I was asked to describe some of the most memorable moments during my 15 years here as mayor. There have been many, but these stand out:

Overwhelming support
– on five different occasions over the years
– for our land acquisition referenda. Green space. Fantastic parks. Managed growth. Traffic reduction. These and other benefits will be felt and enjoyed for generations.

The Real Estate Transfer Fee, of course, is what made this all possible. Introduced by Mayor Jerry Barkie, it fell to my administration to defend it from repeal efforts in the state legislature. I will long remember trudging up to Columbia to work with Sen. Holly Cork, Sen. Glen McConnell and Rep. Scott Richardson to preserve the fee.

Honey Horn is the crown jewel of our acquisitions. The Coastal Discovery Museum has crafted a public-private partnership that has maximized its potential for citizens and guests. I am so proud of my wife, who chaired the multimillion dollar fundraising campaign that made this possible. And I will never forget the look on her face when, with 5,000 people gathered on site for an outdoor concert, the Museum Board named the new open-air pavilion for Mary Ann.

The Cross Island Parkway was a divisive subject for many years. I recall there was one last effort to derail the project just before land acquisition and site work was to begin. It was a contentious meeting, but the authorization to move forward came on a 4-3 vote. The Parkway currently handles over 20,000 car trips per day. I shudder to think what the island’s traffic would be like without this road. On June 26, 1999, we dedicated the Cross Island Parkway Bridge to honor Charles E. Fraser’s accomplishments and the fact that he envisioned the roadway in 1957. I never saw Charles as giddy as he was that day.

The following initiatives continue to gratify me:

• Dedicating the Palmetto Electric Franchise Fees toward the burial of all power lines. Our island is more beautiful and much safer as a result.
• By adopting Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and creating TIF Districts, we have improved park, road and sewer infrastructure and facilitated redevelopment efforts.

I chuckle recalling a crowded and contentious public hearing on the airport. I cringed when Mary Ann took the podium. She turned toward the crowd to give critics a piece of her mind. I had to immediately gavel her down and order her to direct her comments to Council. That broke the ice and the meeting went smoothly after that.

When I first ran, I was proud to receive the endorsement of all former mayors. I remain gratified and thankful to you, the citizens, for being the first mayor to win re-election.