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Beaufort County Politics - An Overview

Political Overview

South Carolina has a strong legislature and a history of partisan shifts—from Democratic dominance in the 20th century to Republican control since the 1990s. It is currently a Republican trifecta (control of the Governor’s office and both chambers of the legislature).

For more information:

 

The State Government

South Carolina operates under a revised 1895 Constitution, amended frequently since 1970. The legislature is known as the General Assembly, composed of a 46-member Senate (4-year terms) and a 124-member House of Representatives (2-year terms).

 

Key statewide elected offices (4-year terms) include:

  • Governor & Lt. Governor (run jointly)

  • Attorney General

  • Secretary of State

  • Comptroller General

  • Superintendent of Education

  • State Treasurer

 

Legislative sessions begin each January. The Governor can veto bills, but vetoes may be overridden with a two-thirds vote. Revenue bills must originate in the House.

Voters do not register by party in South Carolina. They may choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary—but not both in the same cycle. Election info here.

 

Beaufort County Representatives

 

Federal Representation

State Legislative Delegation for Beaufort County

Senators

  • SD-43: George “Chip” Campsen (R)

  • SD-45: Margie Bright Matthews (D)

  • SD-46: Tom Davis (R)

 

Representatives

  • HD-118: Bill Herbkersman (R)

  • HD-120: Weston Newton (R)

  • HD-121: Michael Rivers (D)

  • HD-122: Shedron Williams (D)

  • HD-123: Jeff Bradley (R)

  • HD-124: Shannon Erickson (R)

 

Search for Your Legislators and Contact Information

Beaufort County Government

Structure: Governed by an 11-member partisan County Council under a Council-Administrator system. Council hires a professional administrator to manage operations.

Elected County Officials:

  • Sheriff: P.J. Tanner (R)

  • Treasurer: Maria Walls (R)

  • Auditor: Jim Beckert (R)

  • Probate Judge: Kenneth Pulp (R)

  • Clerk of Court: Jerri Roseneau (R)

  • Solicitor (14th Circuit): Duffie Stone (R)

Beaufort County website.

Beaufort County Board of Education

  • 11 nonpartisan members, each elected by district to four-year staggered terms.

  • Oversees 30 public schools and over 21,000 students

Board info & districts

Towns Within Beaufort County

Bluffton

  • Fastest-growing town in SC.

  • Mayor + 4 nonpartisan Town Council members.

  • Town website

Hilton Head Island

  • Pop. ~37,000 (150,000+ in tourist season)

  • Mayor + 6 Council members, all nonpartisan.

  • Town website

Daufuskie Island

  • Pop. ~650

  • Governed locally by the Daufuskie Island Council.

  • Elections held annually. Council website

 

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATiON

Elective Office                    Incumbent

US House SC District 1                               Mark Sanford (R)

Senator                                                         Lindsey Grahm (R)

Senator                                                         Tim Scott (R)

STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS

Elective Office                    Incumbent

Governor                                                      Henry McMaster (R)

Lt. Governor                                                 Pamela Evette (R)

Secretary of State                                        Mark Hammond (R)

State Treasurer                                            Curtis Loftis (R)

Attorney General                                         Alan Wilson (R)

Comptroller General                                   Richard Eckstrom (R)

State Superintendent of Education          Molly Spearman

Commissioner of Agriculture                     Hugh Weathers​

 

BEAUFORT COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

Elective Office                    Incumbent

State Senator District 43                       George E. "Chip" Campsen III (R)

State Senator District 45                       Margie Bright Matthews (D)

State Senator District 46                        Thomas C. "Tom" Davis (R)

State Rep District 118                            Wm “Bill” Herbkersman (R)

State Rep District 120                            Wm Weston Newton (R)

State Rep District 121                            Michael Rivers (D)

State Rep District 122                            Shedron D. Williams (D)

State Rep District 123                            Jeff Bradley (R)

State Rep District 124                            Shannon Erickson (R)

BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL
Elective Office                    Incumbent

Member District 1                                Gerald Dawson (D)

Member District 2                                D. Paul Summerville (R)

Member District 3                                York Glover, Sr. (D)

Member District 4                                Alice G Howard (R)

Member District 5                                Brian Flewelling (R)

Member District 6                                Joseph F. Passiment, Jr.  (R)

Member District 7                                Logan Cunningham (R)

Member District 8                                Chris Hervochon (R)

Member District 9                                Mark Lawson (R)

Member District 10                              Lawrence McElynn (R)

Member District 11                              Stewart H. Rodman (R)

OTHER BEAUFORT COUNTY OFFICIALS
Elective Office                     Incumbent
Sheriff                                                         P. J. Tanner (R)
Treasurer                                                    Maria Walls (R)
Auditor                                                        Jim Beckert (R)
Probate Judge                                            Kenneth E. Pulp (R)
Solicitor                                                      Duffie Stone (R)
Clerk of the Court                                     Jerri Ann Roseneau (R)
BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Elective Office                    Incumbent

Member District 1                                   Earl Campbell

Member District 2                                   David R. Striebinger

Member District 3                                   William Smith

Member District 4                                   Tricia Fidrych

Member District 5                                   Richard Geier

Member District 6                                   Angela Middleton

Member District 7                                   Rachael Wisnefski

Member District 8                                   Cathy Robine

Member District 9                                   Christina Gwozdz

Member District 10                                 Melvin Campbell

Member District 11                                 Ingrid Boatright

TOWN OF HILTON HEAD
Elective Office                 Incumbent

Mayor                                                   John McCann

Council Ward 1                                    Alex Brown

Council Ward 2                                    Wm “Bill” Harkins

Council Ward 3                                    David Ames

Council Ward 4                                    Tamara Becker

Council Ward 5                                    Thomas W. Lennox

Council Ward 6                                    Glenn Stanford

TOWN OF BLUFFTON
Elective Office                   Incumbent

Mayor                                                      Lisa Sulka

Council (at-large seat)                          Larry Toomer

Council (at-large seat)                          Fred Hamilton

Council (at-large seat)                          Bridgette Frazier

Council (at-large seat)                          Dan Wood

 

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