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With fewer than 2,000 votes cast but by a wide margin Phil Cromer defeated Mike Sutton to be the next mayor of Beaufort in Tuesday’s special election after the unexpected resignation of Stephen Murray in September.

Cromer received 1,218 votes or 65.6% to Sutton’s 627 votes equaling 33.7%. Turnout was 19.5% of the 9,517 registered Beaufort voters eligible to cast ballots Tuesday.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Cromer, who was surprised by the margin of victory, as he celebrated at an election party at Panini’s on the Waterfront in Beaufort. He said he plans to get a good night’s sleep and then meet with city council members and City Manager Scott Marshall on Wednesday or Thursday to discuss priorities. One of his priorities, he said, will be meeting with historic preservation interests, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and developers like 303 Associates in an attempt to bring the differing sides together. The city has pressing issues to address, he noted, like economic diversification and affordable housing, and needs to be on the same page. “I only have 11 or 12 months to get somethings done.”

On Dec. 19, Cromer will take the helm of the 312-year-old city recently beset by legal and political battles over building plans in its historic downtown district. The mayor-elect said during the campaign that he was disappointed the city ended the practice of accepting nominations from the Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF) for one of the seats on the city’s Historic District Review Board (HDRB) saying it only makes sense to have a preservationist’s voice on the board. If elected, he said, he would not raise the issue but would welcome a discussion if somebody else did.

He also campaigned on a pledge of lowering the temperature of local politics and said he would listen to everybody.

Aside from the development-versus-preservation rift entangling the state’s second oldest city, Cromer said his priorities would be continuing stormwater projects to build the city’s “resiliency” to coastal flooding and rising tides, completing the strategic goals set by the city council and streamlining the building permitting process to make it easier for businesses and developers.

Cromer, who is currently president of the Beaufort County Historical Society and the St. Andrew’s Society of the Lowcountry, had previously held roles as town administrator of Ridgeland and town manager of Port Royal. He was also a risk management consultant for the Municipal Association of South Carolina before retiring in 2014. He previously served on the City Council from 2014 to 2022.

Murray’s September departure came as fissures over downtown development projects including a parking garage and hotel and the divisive appointment process for the Historic District Review Board escalated. The flash point for the rift was a decision by the city to remove a dedicated seat on the board for the traditionally pro-preservation group.

When he stepped down, Murray cited uncivil attacks and the toll the job was taking on his health, family, friends, businesses and reputation.

Cromer and Sutton, both former members of Beaufort City Council, have been campaigning since the filing date.

The city’s last special election came in March 2021 and drew a turnout of 1,045. That special election was related to Murray as well. After Murray, a councilman at the time, was elected mayor in November 2020, a special election was necessary to fill the remainder of his term on the council. Mike McFee won the seat and was later reelected to a full term. When Murray resigned as mayor, McFee was named acting mayor, filling a seat vacated by Murray for a second time.

On election day Tuesday, both Sutton and Cromer were out campaigning and staying on the messaging that became the hallmark of each campaign.

“We have the battle of the corners here,” Cromer said at about 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Ribaut Road and Bay Street, one of the busiest roads in the city, where he and his supporters were holding signs and waiving to passersby.

Sutton and his supporters were doing the same thing directly across the road, surrounded by Sutton’s distinctive signs featuring a yellow dot with the message, “Push the Sutton for mayor button,” in the center.

Murray’s abrupt departure in September gave the candidates a tight window to launch a campaign and they papered busy street corners and lawns with campaign signs.

Cromer called the shortened campaign the “longest three months of his life” in which he seemed to be constantly campaigning.

Despite the whirlwind, it was civil campaign, at least between the candidates, although not necessarily for supporters, said Sutton, as cars whizzed past. “It’s a gentleman’s campaign and that’s how it should be,” Sutton said.

Weather and holiday interruptions made the campaign to reach eligible voters quickly even more difficult, said Sutton.

Sutton, who served on City Council from 2006 to 2014, owns Sutton Construction, an historic restoration company in Beaufort and currently serves on the Historic District Review Board and the Building Board of Appeals. He served for 21 years in the Coast Guard and retired in 1998 with a background in marine engineering and environmental emergency response.

Results from 15 precincts began trickling in about 7:20 p.m. A fraction of the city’s 9,517 registered voters cast ballots in the election, including 21 by absentee ballot and 543 who voted early last week. In one precinct, Burton 3, which has 303 registered voters, just one person voted.

This story was originally published December 12, 2023, 9:10 PM.

The Lowcountry is not out of the clear as a strong low-pressure system will push its way from the Gulf Coast, sending drenching rains and lashing winds along the Eastern Seaboard this weekend.

Beginning Saturday afternoon, rain and coastal wind will whip up in the Lowcountry, and the effects will linger into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service’s Charleston Office.

NWS meteorologist Michael Stroz said impacts to the Lowcountry will depend on the storm’s track and timing. As models become clearer, the storm looks like it will track to the northeast, paralleling the coastline. Stroz said the Lowcountry will see the majority of effects starting late Saturday and lasting through Sunday evening.

“Sunday will be a rather ugly weather day for us,” said Frank Strait, the state’s severe weather liaison. “Travel conditions will be awful due to wet roads and strong winds; I recommend staying home if you can.”

Beaufort County could get pelted with rain that totals between 3 and 4 inches. Local amounts could be higher, the service added. Low-lying areas and those with poor drainage will be particularly vulnerable, and roads and bridges may be slippery. Because of the rate of rain over time, Stroz said there is little likelihood that flash flooding will occur.

On Friday, the uncertainty of the storm’s track meant impacts from coastal flooding weren’t immediately clear, Strait said.

The storm will pass close to the coast, he said, but it could track just inland or offshore. The further offshore the storm center passes, onshore wind will be less significant. That would lead to a decreased coastal flooding risk during Sunday morning’s high tide. But, if it tracks over land, the longer period of onshore winds whipping through would increase flooding risk.

Rain accumulation doesn’t account for its interaction with high tides. In Beaufort, Saturday and Sunday’s high tides range between 7.3 feet and 8.6 feet, USHarbors predicted. On Hilton Head Island, the weekend high tides span from 6.5 feet to 7.5 feet.

Local meteorologists forecast that wind gusts along the South Carolina coast could blow up to 40 mph throughout the weekend. Strait said wind is the primary threat, with the possibility of causing damage to trees and power lines. Beaufort County is at a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms on Sunday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The NWS called marine and surf conditions “dangerous,” as wind gusts and high seas are expected to stir up waters. Across the entire South Carolina coast, forecasters say breaking waves will reach up to 5 feet or greater, agitating the seas Saturday night through Sunday.

Seas as high as 10 feet to 18 feet are possible Saturday into Monday morning, the service said. Beginning Saturday and lasting through Sunday night, there is a potential for 35 to 45 kt wind gusts blasting over local waters.

What does that all mean? Avoid beaches. Ditch any boating plans. Prep for property flooding. Leave time for travel and room between cars. And check any arriving and departing flights.

As of Friday morning, there were no delayed arrival or departure flights at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport or the Hilton Head Island Airport. While Beaufort County won’t see major impacts until Sunday, do not to count out traveling further south, where the deluge, strong winds and the potential for severe thunderstorms are expected as early as Saturday morning.

The majority of South Carolina’s coast is under a small craft advisory and gale watch. Stroz said a high surf advisory for the entire coast may be issued.

Based on local weather predictions, Beaufort County should clear up Monday, but evening temperatures will cool.

This story was originally published December 15, 2023, 11:47 AM.

The former Beaufort County Jail is being transformed into a condominium development.

Columbia-based developer Wheeler & Wheeler Properties is developing Justice Place, the conversion of the jail at 1409 King St., into nine individual residential condominiums, according to a news release.

Construction on Justice Place has begun, and units are expected to be available for lease in the summer of 2024.

Garvin Design Group of Columbia, which has won numerous awards across the state for its preservation efforts, is the architect for the jail, and notable features of the jail have been retained and incorporated into the design, the release stated. For example, the visiting area has been converted into a breakfast area in one of the units, hallways have been preserved, and portions of old jail bars have been used as accents.

“The conversion of the former county jail into residential condominiums is a great example of adaptive reuse,” said Jeff Wheeler, a partner in Wheeler & Wheeler, in the release. “It allows us to take a deteriorating property and adapt it for another use while preserving the historic character of the structure, a structure that might well have been torn down and lost.”

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Total investment in the project is $3 million, according to Wheeler.

The adaptive reuse project will consist of six one-bedroom, one-bath units ranging in size from 605 to 735 square feet and three two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath units ranging from 900 to 1,050 square feet. Five units will be on the first floor and four on the second floor. Parking for the residents will be on site.

Hill Construction of Columbia is the general contractor. Hill, Wheeler & Wheeler, and Garvin also teamed up for the renovation of the Fannie McCants Elementary School into 11 townhomes in the historic Earlewood neighborhood in Columbia, according to the release.

Development brings history back to life

Constructed on the site of an earlier jail, the present jail was built in 1939 and expanded in 1961, according to the release. A small addition was added to the rear of the building around 1975. The original 1939 jail was designed by Beaufort architect Jules D. Levin and is a well-developed example of Art Deco/Moderne architecture.

However, the building has sat vacant and deteriorating for several decades in the historic Northwest Quadrant, the release stated.

Preserving the historic character of the jail, while at the same time meeting modern housing standards, was a challenge achieved through a collaboration among the South Carolina Department of History and Archives, the National Park Service and Garvin Design Group, the release stated. Garvin created a design that is functional and architecturally consistent with the area. The jail is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing building to the Beaufort Historic District.

Located near the city center and shopping, Justice Place is expected to appeal to urban professionals, the release stated. Following approval of the jail project, Wheeler and Wheeler began discussions with the county through the County Attorney, Brittany Ward, about the remaining portion of that block. “The negotiations have been collaborative and proactive with a goal of developing affordable housing. Both the City and the County have been supportive of this project,” Wheeler said.

Developers envision a residential community

Justice Place is now a part of Justice Square, a proposed two-block residential community envisioned by Wheeler & Wheeler in Beaufort’s historic Northwest Quadrant, according to the release.

“The Justice Square development will meet a range of housing needs and is envisioned as a catalyst to spur further revitalization in the heart of that historic area,” Wheeler said.

In addition to Justice Place, the proposed urban infill development of Justice Square may include, according to the release:

“The Beaufort Housing Study identified four critical elements which Justice Square will meet: affordable rental housing, for sale housing to moderate income households, residential development that will appeal to millennials and young professionals, and adaptive reuse of existing vacant structures for residential purposes,” said Zack Wheeler, also a partner in Wheeler & Wheeler Properties, in the release.

A hearing has been scheduled for Friday morning to hear pending matters in an upcoming financial crimes trial involving disbarred lawyer and confessed fraudster Richard "Alex" Murdaugh.

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office confirmed today that a 10 a.m. hearing is set in Beaufort County before Judge Clifton Newman.

The purpose of the hearing is "to discuss juror issues in the upcoming financial crimes trial, but other motions might be discussed," said SCAG spokesperson Robert Kittle.

Murdaugh is scheduled to appear in Beaufort County General Sessions Court beginning Nov. 27 to stand trial for charges related to an insurance scheme he allegedly orchestrated involving the estate of his late household employee, Gloria Satterfield. He also faces roughly a hundred other financial crimes charges.

However, during a recent court filing, his attorneys, Richard Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, stated that 147 potential jurors had returned pretrial questionnaires which stated they had extensive knowledge of the case. It is possible this is the juror issue referred to.

In that recent filing, Murdaugh's attorneys also requested a change of venue or a continuance of this trial. It is possible this matter may be heard as well.

Other matters remain pending before the higher courts. Murdaugh's attorneys have also filed motions with the South Carolina Supreme Court demanding a hearing in hopes of getting a new trial based on jury tampering allegations, and filed a motion seeking to have Newman booted off of the Murdaugh cases and replaced by another judge.

Murdaugh has already pleaded guilty to federal charges against him related to his financial crimes, and awaits sentencing, and has confessed to many of his financial crimes in open court and in court filings.

Even as legal maneuvers are made, and motion after motion is filed, Murdaugh remains jailed on two life sentences after being convicted March 2 for killing his wife and younger son in a plot that state prosecutors say was designed to distract from his financial crimes, gain Murdaugh sympathy, and buy him time to replace stolen money and cover his tracks.

This is a developing story and Greenville News/The USA Today Network-South Carolina will continue to cover it. Follow Michael M DeWitt Jr. for updates on the Alex Murdaugh cases, and follow him on X at @mmdewittjr

Labor Day weekend has arrived, unofficially marking the end of summer and many may be looking for things to do this weekend following Idalia’s impacts on the Southeast and South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

While there aren’t many Labor Day-specific activities on the local calendar, there are no shortage of nearby things to do with your family.

Here are eight activities to try that are perfect for your Lowcountry Labor Day weekend.

The Parrot Palooza Sunset Celebration with Shannon Tanner & the Oyster Reefers is a fun, Caribbean-style concert event for the family to enjoy this holiday weekend. Parrot Palooza offers an opportunity for attendees to dance and enjoy their evenings during the holiday weekend with shows starting at 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday featuring the Jimmy Buffet tribute band.

Children’s entertainment will also be present, featuring Cappy the Clown at the harbour, with further children’s activities from 6-9 p.m. The events are subject to change and are reliant on weather conditions. Any updates can be found at the Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina’s Facebook page. All activities for the event can be found at 17 Harbourside Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.

For those who prefer a more carnivorous diet, barbecue is quite popular during Labor Day weekend festivities. Beaufort County is filled with great barbecue options.

Previous Island Packet reporting detailed that Yelp’s 2023 selections for the best barbecue in the county included locales such as:

Despite Idalia’s hurricane force winds and flooding that took place just days ago, efficient cleanup efforts helped restore the county as weather began to calm. Blue, sunny skies are predicted for the weekend.

Heading to the beach for a relaxing Labor Day weekend could be the fun that the whole family needs after the recent tropical weather events. Hilton Head Island has 12 miles of white-sand beaches, and the Lowcountry as a whole has a large quantity of beautiful, unique beaches.

Sea Pines has a plethora of activities for your family to choose from this holiday weekend. Whether you want to relax or explore, there are options for everyone. Aside from Harbour Town and South Beach Marina, this area of the island’s south end has its own set of ruins, a nature preserve, Lawton Stables, aquatic tours and gear rentals, dolphin cruises, nationally-recognized restaurants, a PGA Tour golf course and more.

For an adult group, find a local happy hour spot. Many local establishments offer happy hour specials and live music for over-21s to spend those end-of-summer Lowcountry evenings. Hilton Head Distillery, Poseidon, Aunt Chiladas and The Sandbar are just a few of the many places to enjoy an evening beverage in the surrounding area for this Labor Day weekend.

Are you in favor of some healthy, family competition? The Lowcountry is known for its award-winning golf courses. Set up a tee time and play one of the many courses available. Not a golfer? Mini golf, tennis or pickleball are also popular choices that are sure to bring a fun time and memories that will last.

Enjoy the local Lowcountry flora and fauna this weekend with sunny skies after a week of wind and rain. The region has a unique environment that can be explored through these nine local parks and trails in Beaufort County.

Whether you’re a long-time local, summer vacationer or part-time resident, you may have led yourself to believe that you’ve seen everything on the island.

Do you know for certain if that is actually true?

Hilton Head has several surprising treasures that you might not have known existed or thought to explore.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, try visiting at least one of these six ‘hidden gems’ located around the island.

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Sarah Claire McDonald is a Service Journalism Reporter for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. She specializes in writing audience-focused, unique, spotlight stories about people, places and occurrences in the Lowcountry. Originally from the Midwest, Sarah Claire studied news media, communications and English at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where she graduated in 2021.