Orischak, Perry clash on being a ‘full-time mayor’ in last voters’ forum before runoff

As mayoral candidates JoAnn Orischak and Alan Perry head into a runoff, they agree on most issues surrounding Hilton Head’s mayoral race, but they differ when it comes to a mayor’s work schedule.

At Monday’s final mayoral forum, Orischak repeatedly told the crowd she’d be a “full-time mayor,” despite the position’s “modest salary” of $25,000 a year.

The remark was a veiled jab at her opponent, Perry, who said he plans to keep his position as a senior loan officer at Mortgage Network if elected.

“I understand what a full-time mayor can do: attending all meetings, going to County Council meetings,” Orischak said. “We’re trying to improve relationships between the Town Council and the County Council; what better way than to have the mayor show up and be a visible presence?”

But Perry thinks the “full-time” label is reductive. What matters, he says, is the quality of leadership.

“Is it full-time or is it quality time? Effective time,” he said. “I know how to lead and I know how to utilize the time effectively.”

Neither Perry nor Orichak secured 50% of the votes in the Nov. 8 election, sending the candidates into a runoff slated for Nov. 22. Last week’s election results saw Orischak get 44.2%, or 6,963 votes, while Perry received 41.4%, or 6,523 votes, according to Beaufort County’s election day results.

Candidates speak on tourism, workforce housing

Both candidates also spoke on the hot-button issue of tourism and short-term rentals, agreeing for a balance between supporting the town’s vital tourism industry and serving permanent residents.

Orischak suggested the town “pull back” on its efforts to increase tourism through marketing.

“I’m not sure ... it’s really necessary right now,” she said of the town’s marketing budget.

Perry said the town should “try to keep the daytrippers from coming over,” arguing that beachgoers who drive in from nearby towns like Hardeeville only clog up parking lots and typically “bring no economic value.”

On the subject of workforce housing, Perry said ample space for island employees is important, but the town has to do it right. He cited one report that recommends an additional 2,000 additional residential units be built on the island — a number equivalent to 10 Aquatera complexes.

“Housing is very important, but when it’s not meeting the needs of the community, then it’s not serving us correctly,” Perry said.

Orischak said any workforce housing projects should be funded by the private sector, not taxpayer dollars. And she thinks housing should be a top priority, even above growth and development.

“I’m a little conservative in that regard, but I do think we need to get one successful model ... before the council would move on and begin additional projects,” she said.

How can I vote in the runoff election?

Early voting for the runoff election is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at two precincts. Those precincts are at Beaufort County’s Hilton Head Satellite Office at 539 William Hilton Parkway in Hilton Head and another at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County at 15 John Galt Road in Beaufort.

All Hilton Head precincts will be open for the Nov. 22 runoff from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and all town residents who were registered to vote at least 30 days before the Nov. 8 election will be eligible to vote in the runoff.

Those who requested an absentee ballot for the Nov. 8 general election and checked a box that they also want to receive a ballot in case of a runoff will automatically be sent one, town officials said in a news release. Only the voters who requested absentee ballots during the general election will receive them for the runoff.

To count, absentee ballots must be received by the election office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 22. Those ballots are set to be mailed out later this week.