November’s Hilton Head Council races start to draw candidates

While the June 9 partisan Republican and Democratic primaries for state and county offices dominate the immediate calendar, a quieter set of races is taking shape on Hilton Head Island, where three Town Council seats will be contested in the November general election.

In these local contests, two familiar names have announced they are seeking re-election — Patsy Brison in Ward 2 and Tamara Becker in Ward 4 — while in Ward 5, a new face, David Ellis, is stepping forward as Councilman Steve Alfred prepares to retire.
These council elections are expected to be significant, as key decisions loom regarding potential changes in the town’s strategic direction on growth management, workforce housing and resiliency planning to protect against natural and economic challenges over the coming decade.

Ellis is already well known in the Sea Pines gated community, home to a majority of voters in Ward 5. He has lived in Sea Pines for nearly 20 years and has been active in the private community’s governance for much of that time, including six years on the Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors, where he served as board chair for three years. He also served as president of the Sea Pines Country Club board for four years.

A retired attorney from Vicksburg, Mississippi, Ellis graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago Law School. During his career in Vicksburg, his law practice included significant time representing the city’s government and other public entities in the region. “My life’s work has been public service, and I hope to continue that here on Hilton Head, which I believe is one of the very best small towns in America,” Ellis said.

Brison’s Ward 2 encompasses much of Hilton Head Plantation, the upper end of Squire Pope Road and most neighborhoods along Gumtree and Wildhorse roads. She has a record of financial management, supporting three consecutive balanced budgets that maintained or enhanced services while delivering two reductions in the town’s millage rate and strengthening its long-term financial position. Brison also has been a strong advocate for bolstering Land Management Ordinance standards and preserving Gullah Geechee culture and heritage.

Becker, a 15-year resident, has been a leading advocate for protecting neighborhoods and managing responsible growth. She worked closely with residents of Holiday Homes to establish a protective overlay district and led efforts resulting in more than two dozen Land Management Ordinance amendments. She has been recognized for her leadership in preserving more than 85 acres of land, preventing high-density development.