Two longtime Hilton Head residents vying for Ward 1 council seat differ on bridge proposal
In a few weeks, Hilton Head Island residents will have the opportunity to vote to fill three positions on the town council: representatives from Wards 1, 3 and 6. The elected candidates' term begins in January 2025. Representatives from Wards 2, 4 and 6 will continue serving on the council until their term expires in December 2026.
Ward 1 represents the area between Squire Pope Road south to Union Cemetery Road. Two candidates, incumbent Alex Brown and Daniel Anthony are hoping to secure a single Ward 1 seat on the council.
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette asked the two Ward 1 candidates questions about top issues facing the town from affordable housing to the US 278 Corridor Project. The paper asked the same seven questions of each candidate with a word count limit of 200 words for each response. The candidates were given the same timeline to complete responses to the questions. The answers are in their words.
In the coming days, the paper will share the candidates' responses from Wards 3 and 6. For now, who is running in Ward 1, and what do they have to say about the town's most pressing issues?
The candidates for Ward 1
Alex Brown
Alex Brown has served as the Ward 1 town council member since he was elected in 2020. He sits as chair of the finance committee and serves as the liaison between the Island Recreation Center and the town of Hilton Head. He also serves on the board for the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation and serves on the IW Wilborn Scholarship Committee and the Northpoint Public-Private Partnership Housing Advisory Committee.
Brown is a fifth-generation native islander of Gullah descent, vice-president of operations at Camp Hilton Head, and co-founder of the One Island One Community Annual 4th of July Picnic. Brown previously served as the boys' varsity basketball coach at Hilton Head High School and the youth leader at Central Oak Missionary Baptist Church.
Daniel Anthony
Daniel Anthony has lived on the island for 40 years and is the owner of Absolute Builders, a company that specializes in single-family home renovations. He is the president of the Jarvis Creek Subdivision POA and co-founder and president of the Jonesville Preservation Society, which he says was instrumental in the town acquiring the Driftwood Stables property. Anthony was a volunteer coach with the Hilton Head Baseball Association for seven years and has assisted with coaching the Hilton Head Middle and High School wrestling teams.
Affordable housing
The question:
Alex Brown:
Affordable housing is crucial for our community's future to maintain our quality of life. It touches every aspect of life here on Hilton Head Island including quality health care, emergency response, quality education for our children as well as access to vibrant arts and culture.
As the head of the Finance Committee, I have actively worked to address this by advocating for the inclusion of a permanent housing fund in our 2024 budget and by supporting contributions to the regional Housing Trust Fund to promote workforce housing on Hilton Head Island and our surrounding community. I helped create the Housing Action Committee, which supports town initiatives and gathers innovative ideas for workforce housing.
Additionally, I supported advancements in land management ordinance improvements to encourage private investment in affordable housing. Going forward, I am committed to our investment in affordable housing by completing the Northpoint neighborhood with appropriate zoning, advancing the recently purchased Bryant Rd. site for single-family home ownership, and by supporting our non-profit partners like Habitat for Humanity in purchasing and developing land. My focus remains on implementing long-term solutions to ensure affordable housing options for all to maintain our vibrant and diverse community.
Daniel Anthony:
In order to truly address affordable housing, or workforce housing, we must first consider what is affordable. With limited space to develop, converting commercial properties to residential housing makes sense. The town has been promoting public/private partnerships to address the housing shortage. This will result in developing virgin land into city type densities, with only a small percentage used for workforce housing. The developer will still make just as much profit, because the workforce "bonus" element will allow him more density. With the deed restrictions, this is merely a temporary solution. And, let us not forget the permanent negative impacts this will cause to our community. Our infrastructure, roads, schools, hospital, first responders, safety, quality of life, etc., they will all suffer.
Island safety
The question:
Alex Brown:
Hilton Head Island continues to be a safe place to live, work and play, but we must always work to improve law enforcement, municipal code enforcement and quality of life. I have supported providing housing stipends for Beaufort County deputies to live on the island with the community they serve which is proven to enhance the effectiveness of community policing. Additionally, I advocate for education and recreational programs as effective means to prevent crime by providing our young residents with positive ways to fill their time.
As a council member, I will continue to have an open relationship with our sheriff to increase patrols in targeted high-crime areas and to monitor road safety. I am also committed to resolving disagreements between the town and county on law enforcement funding to ensure optimal public safety and to ensure equitable use of our tax dollars. My approach to public safety balances proactive community engagement and strategic law enforcement partnership to maintain and enhance the island's safety.
Daniel Anthony:
Hilton Head Island has its fair share of crime, which negatively impacts public safety. I believe the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department does a pretty good job overall. We may live on a beautiful island, but don't think for a second that we are immune to the element of crime and those individuals who refuse to follow the law. There are those troubled areas around the island, where individuals get involved with gun play and drugs. We have the same types of crime that larger cities do, just not at the same extent. Speeding on our primary and secondary roads is also a problem.
Penny sales tax
The question:
Alex Brown:
As an elected member of town council, I'm not permitted to comment on referendum issues.
Daniel Anthony:
I do not support the penny tax. In the past, items like this have come up on the county's agenda. Personally, I would like to see the accounting for the 2018 tax projects.
U.S. 278 Corridor Project
The question:
Alex Brown:
The U.S. 278 Corridor Project has been a long and complex undertaking. On June 28, the Hilton Head Island town council, including myself, approved the municipal consent for the Gateway Corridor plans to proceed. My decision was made after years of work, and I did not take it lightly. I have always been guided by community values, maintaining a high quality of life, minimizing negative impacts, especially on the Stoney community, and fostering economic vitality by supporting our vital workforce traveling to the island each day. As a Native Islander, and the council representative for the Stoney Community, I am proud that the approved consent included financial and planning resources to support Stoney's future while honoring its history.
Key improvements have been made to the original plan, earning my support. They include reducing the right-of-way width through Stoney, a detailed study of intersections for safer traffic movement, creating the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, an ongoing commitment to Stoney's needs. Additionally, enhancements like lower speed limits, fortifying bridges for extreme weather, and safe road crossings for pedestrians and bikes were crucial. While still in process, I will remain diligent to ensure the best outcome for our entire community.
Daniel Anthony:
I do not support the present U.S 278 Corridor Project. I understand the bridges need replaced, and we need a solution to solve the traffic congestion. However, I do not believe we need a "super slab" bridge to address the traffic issue. I believe the traffic situation could be improved enough, with just adding one additional lane in each direction. This lane could be used as an accident/emergency lane during off-peak hours, and opened up during the high traffic volume times. I also do not support acquiring additional Gullah owned property for the massive expansion. This massive gateway is not in character with our island and will negatively impact us for generations to come.
Conflicts of interest
The question:
Alex Brown:
I have dedicated my life to serving our community, both before and during my time on town council. Over the past four years, I've worked tirelessly to honor the trust you placed in me by focusing on key priorities such as purchasing land for green space in Ward 1, supporting our workforce, preserving our Gullah Geechee culture, and addressing infrastructure issues like stormwater management.
While serving on various boards, commissions, and committees, including chairing the Finance and Administrative Committee, I've ensured every dollar is accounted for and used wisely to benefit the entire community. On town council, I have demonstrated unwavering integrity and a commitment to transparency. In my service, I consistently put the needs of Ward 1 first, representing young families, retirees, Gullah neighbors, and the island workforce without any conflicts of interest. I have maintained transparency and accountability, knowing where and how every tax dollar is spent.
I have never had to recuse myself from town council matters, as my decisions have always been guided solely by the best interests of our community. With a lifetime of experience living in Ward 1, I understand the community's unique needs and will continue to work diligently to protect and uplift it.
Daniel Anthony:
There are no foreseeable conflicts of interest.
The question:
Alex Brown:
I believe in full transparency and open communication with the community. In three years, I have held over 30 Community Conversations—regular in-person gatherings where residents of Ward 1 and beyond can meet, ask questions, and stay informed about what's happening in our community. These conversations provide a platform not only for direct dialogue with me but also for residents to meet other elected officials, including Senator Tom Davis, Beaufort County Council members, Dr. Frank Rodriguez of BCSD, and Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls. In addition to these gatherings, I have sent over 78 newsletters to keep residents updated on events, policy issues, and my votes. I make myself available to local media to explain my positions and make it a priority to return emails and phone calls from constituents.
While I firmly believe in advocating for my views, I also understand the importance of remaining a productive council. After decisions are made and the vote is taken, I am committed to moving forward, always working in the best interest of our residents, ensuring that everyone stays informed and engaged.
Daniel Anthony:
I will always state my position based on the view of the residents I represent. I believe town council should always try to present a united front to the public. However, a council member must always represent their constituents first and foremost. That is why we are elected. Council members should simply be the extension of the voices of the residents they represent.
Other priorities
The question:
Alex Brown:
There is still much work to be done for Ward 1 and the entire island community. In my first four years on town council, I worked hard to address important issues, but we face several complex challenges ahead.
My priorities for the next term include finalizing the resolution of the outstanding Gateway Corridor issues and planning intelligently for island districts, especially Ward 1. I will continue to support our essential workforce by advocating for accessible housing and transportation solutions, ensuring that first responders and working families can thrive. I will focus on investing in infrastructure, particularly drainage and traffic controls, to protect our neighborhoods from flooding. Transparency and accountability in town spending will remain a top priority.
As someone who has held key roles, such as Finance and Administration Chair and member of the Gullah Geechee Community Development Corporation Board, I have the experience and dedication to lead these efforts effectively. I will continue to maintain high standards, keeping the community informed, ensuring that every tax dollar is used wisely. I am committed to providing an environment where our children can learn, play, and grow, just as I did on this island. Together, we can build a better future.
Daniel Anthony:
My top priority has always been and will always be the preservation and protection of the island. Historic and Gullah lands, along with single family neighborhoods are under direct threat from overdevelopment and STR's (short-term rentals). Our current zoning allows this to happen. This is a tourism destination, but it is so much more than that. We need strong individuals on council, willing to make the tough choices, to change our current zoning.
Through zoning and proper development, we can find a better balance between tourism and island quality of life. I am not willing to trade the beauty and character of this island so that some individuals can enhance their bank accounts.
In the coming days, the paper will share the candidates' responses from Wards 3 and 6.
