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Hilton Head Island Mayor candidate profile: Drew Laughlin [The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)]
[October 25, 2014]

Hilton Head Island Mayor candidate profile: Drew Laughlin [The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)]


(Island Packet (Hilton Head, SC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 25--AUDIO -- Click here for a recording of Drew Laughlin's Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette Editorial Board endorsement interview.

Name: Drew Laughlin Age: 62 Office: Mayor of Town of Hilton Head Island Number of years living in the district you seek to represent: 37 Family: Wife, Jane; four grown children Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, University of Virginia; law degree, University of South Carolina School of Law Current occupation/employer: Attorney, Laughlin & Bowen P.C.



Employment, military and volunteer history: Employment -- 1977-1983, attorney, Bowen, Cooper, Beard & Smoot, Hilton Head Island; 1983, attorney, Davis & Turlington, Inc., San Antonio, Texas; 1983-1987 attorney, Bowen, Smoot & Laughlin, Hilton Head Island; 1987, attorney, Qualey, Laughlin & Qualey, Hilton Head Island; 1987-1990, attorney, McNair Law Firm P.A.; 1990-present,A attorney, Laughlin & Bowen, P.C. Volunteer -- 1990-1994, Town of Hilton Head Island Corridor Review Commission (chairman, 1992-1994); 1994-1998, Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission (chairman, 1996-1998); 1994-1997 board of directors, Hilton Head Plantation Property Owners Association (president, 1996-1997); 1993-1998, coach, Hilton Head Dixie Youth Baseball; 1998-2003 board of commissioners, Hilton Head No. 1 Public Service District (treasurer, 2000-2003); 2010 Mayor's Task Force for the Island's Future (ex-officio); 2014 Lowcountry Area Transportation Study Policy Committee Association Inc. (chairman) Public offices held: 2003-2010, Hilton Head Town Council, (Ward 3) (chairman, Personnel and Planning & Development Standards committees); 2010-present, mayor, Town of Hilton Head Island Unsuccessful bids for public office: 1992, Beaufort County Board of Education; 2007, Beaufort County master-in-equity Key endorsements you've received: Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors, Tom Peeples, Bob Gentzler, Bob Masteller, Michael Marks, Rich Speer, Leslie Richardson, Frank Babel, Andy Twisdale, Ezra Callahan, Jack Burke, Dr. Bob Hohman, state Sen. Tom Davis Campaign contributions: $18,686 Campaign expenditures: $9,210 Biggest contributor: Contributors giving the maximum $1,000: Wynetka Schutt; Mullen Wylie LLC; West Olivetti LLC; Vacation Time of Hilton Head Island Inc.; Broad Creek Marina of Hilton Head LLC; Richard Speer; Tami Speer Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponent? I am a 37-year resident, who has established a successful law practice. I am a listener and a consensus-builder. I have a broad knowledge of the island, proven leadership skills, and perhaps the most extensive and rounded record of community service among all the candidates, including four years as mayor. I have forged good working relationships with my fellow council members, the town manager and his staff, and regional partners. I know that effective governance is a team effort and how to turn ideas into action.

What are the three most important issues you would address if elected? How? --Maintaining the positive momentum that we have established. We had the reputation of being difficult to deal with and of putting up obstacles instead of working with potential investors to make things happen. We have changed that reputation, and yes, that has contributed to the wave of investment in quality revitalization. We must not revert back to old ways. We cannot preserve what makes us special by trying to prevent all change. We must do more than plan -- we must act.


--Supporting our hospitality industry and getting creative on economic development. We need to increase support for marketing efforts and find additional resources for them. We must attract new economic drivers beyond hospitality and retirement that are compatible with who we are. We must pursue an economic environment that sustains our quality of life and provides opportunities for all citizens, present and future. In an age of mobility, we must emphasize "quality of life" and protect and promote those assets that make us a great place to live. We should always be asking ourselves how people and businesses make decisions on where to visit and where to locate. This one of the reasons I do my best to promote support for the arts and our island history and cultural heritage.

--We should exhibit the pioneering spirit that created Hilton Head Island. Those who came here in the beginnings of modern day Hilton Head were risk-takers and optimists who saw the opportunity to be a part of something new and cutting-edge. They were not complacent, and they were not afraid of change and innovation.

What other issues do you see as important? --Community building. We can accomplish much more if we can establish community of interest and work together. There is still too little knowledge or understanding between those of us who came from somewhere else, families were here for generations before the bridge, and our Latino community. In many ways, we remain strangers.

--Capital projects. Opening of the University of South Carolina Beaufort school of hospitality management, completion of a renovated and expanded Island Recreation Center, substantial progress on implementing the new concept plan for Coligny, road and connectivity improvements.

--Thinking regionally and collaborating with regional partners. This will be increasingly important as resources for roads and infrastructure continue to shrink, and while space on Hilton Head may be limited, regional employers can provide opportunities and future residents.

--Updating the Ward 1 Master Plan.

What specific steps will you take to make government more open and accessible to the public? We have done a great deal in this area. Council meetings are now televised, and we can expand television and video coverage into other town meetings. We enlisted citizens to steer us through the re-write of our land management ordinance. We staffed and worked with a citizen telecommunications task force. We engaged talented citizens to work with our staff to streamline our review and permitting procedures. We have adopted a more open, welcoming attitude. We have had many more public workshops on important issues than ever before. We have improved the town website. We can and should continue these efforts, and expand use of social media to communicate with the public. But all of us should also recognize our individual responsibility to be informed citizens.

Have you ever been convicted of a crime (felony), been disciplined by a professional licensing board or organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? Zach Naert, Mr. DuBois' law partner, filed a complaint against me with the S.C. Supreme Court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel concerning my testimony to the S.C. Real Estate Commission on behalf of Coral Resorts. After investigation, ODC found no evidence of misconduct on my part. Mr. Naert then petitioned for review of ODC's decision by a panel of the Commission on Lawyer Conduct. That review is pending.

Mr. DuBois filed a complaint against me with the S.C. Ethics Commission concerning the same matter. After investigation and review of the evidence, the Commission determined that there is no probable cause to indicate that I committed an ethics violation and nothing to indicate that I was using my position as mayor to obtain an economic interest for myself, and the Commission dismissed the charges made against me.

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, had your mortgage foreclosed, or been delinquent on your federal, state or local taxes? No.

Are there any personal details about yourself that voters would be interested in knowing? I am the first person from either side of my family that had the opportunity to go to college. My younger brother is an FBI agent. My son is a career Air Force officer.

___ (c)2014 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) Visit The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) at www.islandpacket.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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