If the sudden appearance of political signs was not enough to let you know that campaigning is in full swing, all you need to do is watch the recent city work sessions and meetings that have taken on a new quality: Campaign Mode!
The last two Beaufort City Council work sessions and meetings have been presided over by a panel of representatives whose names will be on the ballot in November. Councilman Mike McFee has been absent on both August 27 and September 10 meetings, leaving Mayor Phil Cromer, and Councilmen Scallate, Lipsitz, and Mitchell all of whom are running for office.
All four representatives that will be on the ballot have taken on new characteristics since campaigns have gotten under way. In many ways, the changes are positive – calling for more public input, more discussion before decisions are made, more questions being asked when challenging issues are on the table – but, some aren’t so great – talking just to talk, focusing on minutiae just to have the opportunity for input, rambling strings of buzzwords, and taking cheap jabs at their competition under the guise of official discussion.
The public is left wondering if these new personas will last past November 5th or if the calls for transparency and community input will fade back into back door deals and marathon executive sessions once the election is over.
Mayor Cromer is looking to be re-elected after being in the mayor’s seat for less than a year. He was elected in a special election in December to finish out the term that former Mayor Stephen Murray resigned. If re-elected in November, he will serve a full four year term.
Councilman Scallate is challenging Mayor Cromer to scoot down a couple seats in city council chambers. Scallate was elected to City Council in 2022 and has served almost two years of his four year term. There would be a special election held to fill Scallate’s council seat should he prevail in becoming mayor.
Both Councilmen Lipsitz and Mitchell are looking to remain in their seats for a second term. Both councilmen were elected to their seats in 2020. Lipsitz and Mitchell have two challengers that would be newcomers to city council. Josh Gibson and Julie Crenshaw are both looking to be elected to their first term.
