Meet the mayoral candidates

Hilton Head Island voters will choose the town’s next mayor in the Nov. 3 election. Ahead of Election Day, The Hilton Head Sun invited each candidate for mayor to answer the same five questions on issues facing the island and their priorities for the town.
Candidates were asked to limit each response to 100 words and were also given the opportunity to provide a closing message of up to 200 words to Hilton Head Island voters. Their responses follow.

1. What do you believe is the most important issue facing Hilton Head Island over the next four years, and what specific actions would you pursue as mayor to address it?

Dave Ferguson: Hilton Head doesn’t suffer from a lack of plans. Our biggest challenge is prioritization and execution. The Strategic Action Plan has too many goals and wants, distracting the Town from a handful of critical needs. Too many major issues remain unresolved while we continue studying, consulting and talking. As Mayor, I will narrow our priorities, establish clear timelines and publicly track results. Public safety will come first. If residents and visitors don’t feel safe on our roads, pathways, and in our dining and shopping areas, what else really matters? Government should be measured by what it gets done for the people it serves.

Alan Perry: Our greatest challenge is managing change without losing what makes Hilton Head Island home. Growth, redevelopment, traffic, housing, infrastructure and environmental protection are interconnected, and we cannot address them in isolation. Over the next four years, I will continue advocating for responsible land-use decisions, infrastructure investment, environmental protection and redevelopment that respects the scale and character of our Island. We have made meaningful progress, but important work remains. My focus will be turning the plans and investments already underway into measurable results residents can see and ensuring that every major decision considers its long-term impact on quality of life.

Palmer E. Simmons: The most important issue facing Hilton Head Island in the next four years is destination management. With 2.8 million visitors each season and growing, the ratio reaches 60:1 at the peak of the season. I would work to expand our trolley routes, aimed at reducing the number of cars on the roadways, making them safer and more accessible for residents.

2. How should Hilton Head Island manage future growth and redevelopment while protecting the island’s environment, neighborhoods, Gullah Geechee heritage and overall character? What, if anything, would you change about the town’s current approach?

Alan Perry: Hilton Head’s future will increasingly be shaped by redevelopment, making thoughtful land-use decisions more important than ever. I support continuing to strengthen our Land Management Ordinance so density, building scale, tree protection, open space, infrastructure capacity and neighborhood compatibility are considered together. We must also ensure our Gullah Geechee historic neighborhoods and the families that live within them have the tools and resources to preserve land, culture and generational opportunity. Where I believe we can improve is by being more proactive: establishing clear expectations before redevelopment is proposed rather than reacting afterward. Good redevelopment should strengthen an area and respect what surrounds it, not simply maximize what can be built.

Palmer E. Simmons: The LMO is the key ingredient in managing future growth and redevelopment. The current rewrite should focus more on compatibility of design and construction while maintaining fair densities. This focus would protect our environment maintain neighborhood character and allow the Gullah Geechee heritage to better coexist with future growth and redevelopment.

Dave Ferguson: Growth and redevelopment are inevitable. Losing the character of Hilton Head Island is not. I support responsible growth, with greater emphasis on redeveloping and improving what already exists. Our infrastructure, roads, public safety and environment must support it. The new LMO should be a living document, measured against real world results and adjusted when necessary. Residents should be involved earlier, before major decisions are effectively made. Protecting our trees, waterways and neighborhoods and preserving Gullah Geechee land, culture and heritage can no longer be boxes checked at the end. They must shape development decisions from the beginning. No excuses.

3. What role should town government play in addressing workforce housing on Hilton Head Island, and what specific actions, if any, would you support as mayor?

Palmer E. Simmons: The partnership role the town government has taken in addressing workforce appears that it will finally bring some defined workforce housing to the island. I support more partnerships with a focus on smaller scale developments.

Dave Ferguson: Workforce housing is important to Hilton Head Island’s economy, but we should stop assuming we know what our workforce wants. I would begin with a comprehensive workforce survey: Who wants to live on the Island? What can they afford? Who would prefer better transportation from the mainland? Then we build policy around facts. Town government should primarily be a facilitator and partner, not a housing developer. I support public private partnerships, employer participation, redevelopment and adaptive reuse where appropriate. Before committing millions more in taxpayer dollars or adding density, let’s understand the problem we are actually trying to solve and then solve it.

Alan Perry: People who teach our children, care for our families, protect our community and support our economy should have a realistic opportunity to live here. Town government cannot solve housing alone, nor should it become the housing developer. It can, however, help create the conditions for responsible private-sector solutions through land, infrastructure, policy and public-private partnerships. We have established a dedicated housing fund and advanced projects including Northpoint, Muddy Creek and Bryant Rd. I support continuing those efforts while measuring results carefully as we go. Our goal should be attainable housing that serves Hilton Head’s workforce while respecting surrounding neighborhoods, infrastructure and the character of the Island.

4. How should Hilton Head Island balance the economic benefits of tourism and short term rentals with their impacts on neighborhoods and residents’ quality of life? What, if any, changes would you support?

Dave Ferguson: Tourism is essential to Hilton Head Island’s economy, and I am strongly pro business. But Hilton Head Island is our home as well as a world class destination. Residents should not have to sacrifice their quality of life for tourism to succeed. I support fair and consistent enforcement of short term rental rules addressing noise, parking, occupancy and safety, with changes driven by facts and neighborhood impacts. I also want greater accountability for how tourism related tax dollars are spent. A healthy tourism economy and a great place to live are not competing goals. Good leadership should protect both and never forget that residents call Hilton Head Island home.

Alan Perry: Tourism is essential to Hilton Head Island’s economy, but our success as a destination cannot come at the expense of the people who call the Island home. Short-term rentals are part of our tourism economy, and the Town now has permitting, monitoring and enforcement tools addressing issues such as noise, parking, trash and occupancy. I support continuing to use actual data and resident feedback to evaluate how those regulations are working and strengthening enforcement where necessary. The goal should not be choosing between visitors and residents. It should be responsible tourism that supports our economy while protecting the peace, safety and character of residential neighborhoods.

Palmer E. Simmons: Management is the key. Rules and regulations are in place. Use the monies to improve public transportation to get more cars off the road.

5. What should the town do to improve public safety, and do you believe Hilton Head Island’s current approach to providing law enforcement services meets the island’s needs?

Alan Perry: Public safety must be measured by whether residents, businesses and visitors receive the level of service Hilton Head Island requires. Our partnership with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has served the Island for many years, and I would not change that model simply for the sake of change. I also would not assume that yesterdays model automatically meets tomorrow’s needs. The Town is evaluating public-safety services, resources and potential gaps, and I support that work. We should continually examine officer presence, response, technology, traffic enforcement and prevention and make decisions based on evidence, service levels and the evolving needs of our community.

Palmer E. Simmons: I think it’s time to seriously consider having its own police force, and that study is fourth coming. The current approach leaves a bit to be desired. I would push for more accountability form BCSO, i.e. more presence more fiscal responsibility.

Dave Ferguson: Public safety will be my top priority. It will never be fourth on my Strategic Action Plan, like it currently is. Our current relationship with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office needs immediate attention, and I will lead that effort from day one. As for creating our own police department, I will not make that decision without reliable data, costs, staffing requirements and a clear understanding of every option. If the facts suggest a different model deserves consideration, I will bring those facts and options directly to residents before taking a position. Public safety is too important for assumptions, politics or predetermined answers. We need facts, action and accountability.

6. Finally, in 200 words or fewer, what is your message to Hilton Head Island voters?

Palmer E. Simmons: It’s time to stop some of the noise around our town government, create a culture that fosters a great working relationship between staff and council, be that listening ear of the people seek fairness at every level do the work of the people, and continue to make Hilton Head Island a great place to visit and a greater place to call home. These goals and this vision, unlike any other, is why I should be the next mayor of The Town of Hilton Head Island.

Dave Ferguson: This election is about leadership, experience and who will put the people of Hilton Head Island first.
I offer more than 40 years of leadership experience. From serving in the United States Air Force, 21 years in corporate leadership, leading international teams, and 18 years building and leading my own business. I’ve spent much of my career developing leaders, building strong cultures and helping organizations solve difficult problems.
But a résumé only matters if you put that experience to work for the people you serve.
I will be a Mayor who listens, asks tough questions, makes decisions based on facts, demands accountability and brings people together to get things done. Residents will have a voice before major decisions are made, not after. Town Hall belongs to you.
I’m not running because I need another title. I’m running because Hilton Head needs better leadership. Being Mayor will not be the greatest achievement of my life. It will be an opportunity to put a lifetime of leadership and real world experience to work serving this Island.
Look closely at all three candidates, their experience, records, priorities and leadership. Then make your own decision about who is prepared to lead Hilton Head Island for the next four years.

Alan Perry: Four years ago, I asked for the opportunity to serve as Mayor of the community that helped raise me. Serving in this role has only deepened my appreciation for both how special Hilton Head Island is and how much responsibility comes with protecting its future.
Over these four years, we have moved important work forward, workforce housing, land preservation, stormwaterr and beach investment, parks and pathways, historic neighborhood support, public safety planning and greater access to Town government. None of that work belongs to one person. Progress happens when Town Council, professional staff, community partners and residents are willing to work together to find solutions.
I am proud of what we have accomplished, but I also know what remains unfinished.
The next four years must be about execution: completing projects already underway, managing redevelopment responsibly, protecting our environment and neighborhoods, strengthening infrastructure and public safety, expanding housing opportunities and maintaining the fiscal discipline residents expect.
I have learned that leadership is truly not about having the loudest voice or promising the easiest answer. It is about listening, doing the homework, making difficult decisions and remaining accountable for the results.
Hilton Head Island is home. It is worth protecting, worth planning for and worth the work.

For more information about the candidates and their campaigns, voters can visit Alan R. Perry at mayorperry.com, Dave Ferguson at hiltonheaddave.com and Palmer E. Simmons on Facebook at “Palmer E. Simmons - Hilton Head Island Mayoral Candidate.”

Editor’s note: Candidate responses are published as submitted, with minor edits for spelling, grammar and clarity.