Community members come together to facilitate a new era in local governance.
In a closely contested election held on January 2, 2025, Alice Howard has taken the chairperson role of the Beaufort County Council, defeating incumbent Joe Passiment by a narrow margin. With a focus on transparency and community engagement, Howard aims to address pressing issues like funding for local projects and rebuild trust with residents. Along with Vice Chair Tab Tabernik, she is set to implement changes in governance to better respond to the needs of Beaufort County.
Beaufort, SC – The Beaufort County Council has entered a new era with the election of Alice Howard as its new chairperson during a fiercely contested vote held on January 2, 2025. The nail-biting tally concluded with Howard defeating the sitting chairman Joe Passiment by a razor-thin margin of 6-5, with Councilman Tom Reitz casting the deciding ballot.
For those who may not know, Alice Howard has been part of the council since 2015, representing District 4, which serves over 17,000 residents across Beaufort and Port Royal. Her victory marks a significant shift in leadership as she takes the reins from Joe Passiment, who has held the chair since March 2020, leading the council through two full terms.
Alongside Howard’s ascension, Tab Tabernik from District 6 has been elected as the new vice chair. This new leadership duo comes at a pivotal time for Beaufort County, which has faced its share of challenges, especially under Passiment’s tenure where criticisms about transparency and the ability to manage the county’s rapid population growth emerged.
Alice Howard has made it clear that her top priority is rebuilding trust with the community, aiming to reduce the number of executive sessions that tend to keep discussions behind closed doors. Instead, she’s keen on hosting more open workshops where the public can engage in the decision-making process.
One of the pressing issues that Howard plans to tackle is the controversial funding for the Highway 278 project. Recently, voters rejected a proposed sales tax increase that was intended to bolster the budget for this crucial infrastructure upgrade. Howard is eager to explore creative financing solutions to secure the necessary funding after the setback in taxpayer approval.
Residents will not have to wait long to see Howard’s plans unfold. The first county council workshop under her guidance is scheduled for January 8, and a regular session is planned for January 13, 2025. This speedy action indicates a determination to hit the ground running and tackle the pressing issues facing the county.
This vote represents the first significant leadership change in over four years, which has garnered attention and anticipation from the community. The council has faced its fair share of controversies in 2023—most notably the decision to terminate County Administrator Eric Greenway and ongoing issues related to the Daufuskie Island ferry service.
Both Howard and Tabernik have expressed the importance of collaboration among all council members to effectively address the challenges that lie ahead. With pressing deadlines on the horizon, including a March 31 deadline to secure funding for Hilton Head’s bridge project, which is in danger of losing a massive $120 million contribution from the State Infrastructure Bank, the pressure is on for this new leadership team.
As Beaufort looks ahead, residents are encouraged to stay engaged and involved in local governance. With a fresh face at the helm, many are hopeful for a revitalized approach to addressing the county’s needs. After all, transparency and community collaboration could be the keys to the future success of Beaufort County.
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