It was the closest mayoral election in Isle of Palms history, maybe the entire state and country, and needed a runoff and final recount to decide the winner. But in the end, incumbent IOP Mayor Phillip Pounds was re-elected for a second term over councilman Scott Pierce by the margin of a single vote – 947 to 946.
Pounds’ victory came 14 days after IOP’s Nov. 4 municipal election and two days after the Nov. 18 run-off which came down to an official vote count and decision by the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.
“It’s one of the tightest races we’ve ever had,” said Matt Dillane, marketing and communications coordinator with the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. “I’m sure other elections have been this close before, but not in recent memory. And it underscores how much every vote counts.”
The heated contest not only brought out voters, but hinged on differing candidate views of how to move the island forward with respect to resident and council member collaboration; City accountability and transparency of all actions and intentions and how decisions made now will affect the island in the near and long-term future.
“It’s been a long few months of campaigning,” Pounds said shortly after the victory. “I’m very proud of our IOP community for staying engaged and coming out to vote again.”
Pounds said that while he is glad the election is finally over, the work will begin almost before anyone has a real chance to celebrate.
“Balancing a residential community and a popular tourist destination isn’t easy,” Pounds said. “Rather than satisfying just the vote of the day, we need to expand our focus in the next few years even more by making decisions for the long-term durability of our island.”
Turnout among all eligible IOP registered voters for the runoff was a whopping 47.1%, whereas for all of the rest of Charleston County’s municipal elections held Nov. 4, voter turnout was just 17.73%.
The high percentage of IOP voter turnout was also due to long-simmering issues over planning and employee retention and a combination of old and new faces for four seats on IOP City Council.
Second-term city council winners John Bogosian and Katie Miars were joined by first-time electees David Cohen and Bev Miller.
The full results of the Isle of Palms City Council race are as follows:
- David Cohen — 1,069 votes (15.62%)
- Bev Miller — 1,003 votes (14.65%)
- Katie Miars (incumbent) — 977 votes (14.27%)
- John Bogosian (incumbent) — 954 votes (13.94%)
- Zach Lary — 877 votes (12.81%)
- Krista Swingle — 873 votes (12.75%)
- Andrew J. Vega — 866 votes (12.65%)
- Larry Kramer — 189 votes (2.76%)
- Write-in — 37 votes (0.54%)
The full recap from the IOP Election will be featured in the December issue of Island Vibes.
By L. C. Leach III
A sad reflection on an incumbent’s “leadership” when they win by only one vote. Let’s hope it wakes him up and he does better in his final term.