Candidates for Mayor Matter
Jason Buelterman
1. Tell us about yourself, your family, when and how you came to Tybee, and why you decided to run for Mayor.
I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have a younger brother and a younger sister. I graduated with a
degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati in 1996. After college, I spent a few years working for
a member of the US House (Rob Portman, who now serves in the US Senate). Rather than go to law school as I
had originally planned, I elected to go to graduate school to become certified to teach high school history and to
get my Master’s. Jody and I got married in 1998 after dating for about six years. After completing my Master’s
degree in Secondary Education, my wife and I move to Wilmington Island where we lived for a few months before
deciding to move to Tybee. I have served as the International Baccalaureate Program Coordinator at Johnson
High School and with the local public school system since 1999. I was elected to Tybee’s City Council in 2001
and again in 2003. In 2005, my wife and I were blessed to add our daughter Maria to our family. She is now six
years old. The same year, in 2005, I elected to run for mayor. I did so for two reasons: 1-I felt that the City wasn’t
getting things accomplished that the great majority of citizens generally agreed on (public safety, infrastructure,
better parks, etc.) due to constant bickering between various factions and 2-felt that Tybee was not fighting
aggressively enough for funds from the County, the State and the Federal government (especially the County).
I’ve spent the last six years working to get things accomplished that were neglected for too long and pushing to
get money from other governmental entities to pay for many of them.
2. What personal qualities and career experiences make you a candidate for Mayor who deserves our support?
I am willing and able to work with people from all ends of the political spectrum. Politically, as a country, I don’t
understand why, although some of us may disagree on a few issues, we can’t work together on the 95% of the
other things we agree on. One of my goals, again, has been to bring people together and prevent divisiveness
from hindering progress on our Island. I believe I have the demeanor and ability to handle difficult issues with
civility and in a way that we can, as a community, place many of these divisive issues in their proper perspective.
I also have an educational background that lends itself well to the position, especially in terms of oral and written
communication skills and an in-depth understanding of the political process at higher levels of government.
Having spent time as a Congressional Aide, I also am able to navigate, with at least some degree of competency,
the complicated maze that is today’s federal budgeting process.
As the representative of the City, it is critically important that the Mayor respond to media inquiries in an
intelligent, dispassionate, and reasonable manner. When addressing the media, the various interest groups that
will consume the news that you are helping to create and/or respond to include not only Tybee residents, but
constituencies that can influence our ability to lobby for funds for the various needs we have as an Island.
Additionally, one has to take into account the effect the Mayor’s words will have on potential customers for our
business community. It is very important that words are chosen carefully especially when it concerns sensitive
issues. It also is incumbent upon the Mayor to, from time to time, write articles in the Savannah Morning News so
as to influence public opinion about issues that Tybee faces. For instance, when we are criticized for having
exorbitant parking rates, we must lay out the facts about what the parking proceeds are used for and explain the
issue in a clear and logical manner. It also is important to work behind the scenes to cultivate relationships with
the media. I have found this to be very helpful when it comes time to defend our Island or advocate for a
particular issue or need.
Finally, I am results-oriented. As a council member, I got tired of seeing Master Plans adopted and then tossed on
the shelf to collect dust. I believe in setting strategic goals and getting things done. The Short Term Work
Program forms the basis for my actions as the Mayor. It is a summary of the recommendations that our citizens
made during the Master Plan process. I love nothing more than checking some of those things off as
ACCOMPLISHED. I do get frustrated from time to time with council meetings where nothing is accomplished.
When I started as Mayor, we began quarterly council workshops. We get an incredible amount of work done in
these sessions, which are, of course advertised and open to the public. I try very hard to not just talk about
getting things done, but seeing them through to successful completion.
3. Evaluate the job performance of the current (2010-2011) City Council. Compare this Council to the last (2008-
2009) in terms of performance and benefit to the community. Tell us how you would lead the next Council to be
better.
It is difficult to ask a candidate for Mayor to rate the performance of Council members who he/she may be serving
with in the future. I will say that each Council has its strengths and weaknesses. The one thing that can truly
hinder a Council is an unwillingness to work as a team. Having served as Mayor for three terms and on Council
for two terms before that, I have worked with councils who believe in teamwork and cooperation and I have
worked with Councils that have not worked well together. As Mayor, it is extremely important to recognize that you
must be able to successfully work with the Council that the voters of Tybee choose. Each Council I have worked
with chose to take actions that I opposed. But it is critical that the Mayor choose his/her battles very carefully. I
have stood by at times while various Council members have advocated for one thing or another, knowing that I
may not necessarily agree with their logic. But to fight every little battle would mean that your voice does not have
as much power and meaning on the issues that could have a significant impact on the long term best interests of
our Island. This at times is frustrating for some voters who may have supported me in the past. But when a
Council member or members attempt to do something that I believe is truly harmful for Tybee, I am not afraid to
stand up to them forcefully. The Mayor must take an informed position on certain issues and not sit on the fence.
I believe very strongly that the Mayor is oftentimes the last line of defense and by using the “bully pulpit” (as my
favorite president Theodore Roosevelt once said) can exert a tremendous amount of influence.
If I am re-elected, I will spend more time trying to establish common goals that are shared by all members of the
Council and utilize the leadership skills I have learned as Mayor (and in various educational experiences—ie as a
member of the 2011 Leadership Savannah class) to ensure that each Council member understands that in order
to accomplish these goals, we must be willing to set aside our differences and work together.
4. What are your top three goals to accomplish as our first four-year Mayor of Tybee Island?
a-Develop a long term solution to our access and erosion issues. Our access issue is Highway 80 and the need
to add two lane bridges at Bull River and the Lazaretto Creek to accompany the existing bridges. These would
include recreational bike lanes. This is a long explanation so brace yourselves J. One of the reasons I am running
again for Mayor is because I believe very strongly that we have a problem with access to our Island. We are
connected to the mainland by a two lane—three lanes at certain spots—causeway that is prone to flood at very
high tides and by two bridges that are each over 40 years old and that have two lanes and no emergency turn off
lanes. We have experienced numerous instances these last few years of complete gridlock on the road. No
access on and no means to get off. This access issue creates many problems. For one, what happens if there is
wreck on the bull river bridge blocking traffic in both directions and one of our residents has a heart attack? Or a
pregnant woman goes into labor? And what if the helicopter is unavailable or unable to get to Tybee due to bad
weather? These are scary scenarios. And this is not to mention the problems the road creates with respect to
hurricane evacuations. In our recent hurricane simulation exercise, one scenario that we were presented w was a
car breaking down which caused an accident which in turn blocked traffic on both lanes of the bridge. Our
solution was to take the DPW equipment which we had prepositioned on the west side of the bridge and using it
to pitch the cars involved over the bridge into the Bull River.
The City has long been told by officials with the state Department of Transportation that the reason money has
not been set aside to address the Tybee road and its bridges was because Tybee was divided on the issue. Over
the last five years, we have taken a thoughtful, systematic, consistent and three point approach to the problem.
First, a City representative has attended every single meeting the Chatham Transportation funding committee
(formerly called “CUTS” and now called “CORE MPO”). At every meeting, we have advocated for funds for access
to Tybee. We also send officials and City representatives to the various committee meetings held by the CORE
MPO and we all say the same thing: allocate money for the bridges. The bridges are the most costly component
of the improvements that need to be made on Highway 80. If we can nail down these funds, money for the
causeway will follow. Second, we have lobbied behind the scenes at the state and county level for support from
appointed and elected officials for this project, explaining the dangers that the existing situation poses for all the
live Tybee and visit the Island. And third, we have been very pro-active in getting the attention of citizens of
Chatham County by appealing to our local media. Pieces have been written in the Savannah Morning News about
the need for the project, interviews have been requested with local TV stations about the issue and have been
granted and every time there is a wreck or tie-up on the road, we draw the attention of the local media to the
need for improvements. A project this costly does not get funded overnight and success takes a plan that we stick
to and that we can justify with facts. Our work is beginning to pay off. The Chatham County Commission voted
unanimously to prioritize funding for this project. About two months ago, the CORE MPO agreed to spend
$300,000 in 2012 and $4,000,000 in 2013 to design and engineer the bridges. And last month, the ten counties
who will be part of the T-SPLOST referendum agreed, through their appointed designees, to place funds for the
Tybee bridges on the referendum. A vote will take place in 2012 to approve or deny a one penny sales tax to be
used for transportation projects. Only projects agreed upon by the 10 counties will be able to receive funds from
the tax proceeds. If it passes (and I should stress this is a big IF), funding for the Lazaretto and Bull River Bridges
will begin flowing in to finally begin addressing a problem that most of us feel has been in need of solving for a
long, long time. If the tax is not approved, we will continue on our multi-faceted approach to obtaining funds to
address this sooner rather than later. The matter is on the radar screens of the decision-makers and I believe we
are close to making some real progress on this front.
Relative to erosion, we fought to get a study completed that proved what we have always said: that Tybee’s
beach erodes largely due to the man-made shipping channel. The federal government now admits that 78% of
the loss of our sand is due to the channel. The problem is that with Congress’s self-imposed ban on earmarks, it
will be difficult to obtain money from the federal government to pay for the damage done to our beach by their
shipping channel. We must develop a long-term funding plan to pay for this project. The beach not only is Tybee’
s economic lifeline, it, along with the dunes we have built behind our beach, provides protection for from storm
surge associated with Tropical systems. I have worked hard on this issue along with fellow Council members and
our Beach Task Force to develop solutions to this problem. Ultimately, the solution I envision is tying the annual
maintenance dredging to our renourishment funding. A portion of the annual maintenance dredging ought to be
set aside so as to allow for periodic renourishment of Tybee’s beach using sand from off-shore that is high quality
beach sand. I believe this can be accomplished in a cooperative partnership between the State, the Ports
Authority and the federal government.
b-Continue the progress we have made with the operations of our City government. We have made incredible
leaps forward as a City in the last few years. We have excellent city staff in place, an extremely open and
transparent government, are on solid financial footing, and as a result, our community is well-positioned to
emerge from the economic malaise our country has been in since 2008. We have more money set aside now
than we did in 2007 and 2008. We have not raised taxes. We have not had to cut essential city services. We
have lobbied successfully for approximately $7,000,000 from the county from the current SPLOST and are just
now starting to receive these funds. This will allow us to continue to invest in our community.
c-LOST and SPLOST negotiations are coming up. The next Mayor will serve for four years and will be the City’s
chief advocate in our efforts to secure more money in these two county-wide revenue streams. This may not
seem like a big deal but these two county-wide taxes (the 5th and 6th cent of the sales tax) are only presented to
the voters after Chatham County and the municipalities negotiate exactly how the proceeds will be distributed.
Tybee deserves MORE than what the County often proposes as a formula for distribution: using each
municipalities population as a basis for the percentage of the proceeds each should receive. This is not fair to
Tybee because although we only represent a little under1.5% of the county’s population, we deserve far more
because of the services we provide for residents in our entire County.
Also, the beach is due to be renourished in 2015. The fight to get the necessary funds for this will also fall upon
the shoulders of the next Mayor. This time will be even more challenging than the last time. Imagine if Tybee
property owners had to pay for the entire cost of the last renourishment. This would have had a drastic impact on
our tax burden and on the services we provide for our residents. We should not be asked to bear the brunt of
the cost of this project because we have documented evidence that nearly 80% of the erosion is caused by the
federally-maintained shipping channel.
5. Do you support the City Manager form of government? What do you see as the Mayor’s job in working
with/supervising the City Manager?
Yes. The structure of government that existed on Tybee prior to the CM (City Manager) form of government is not
equipped to deal with the day-to-day challenges our City now faces. The CM form of government is set up to
allow professional staff to carry out the tasks set forth by the elected Mayor and Council. Relative to this issue,
the Mayor’s job, as I see it, is to ensure that the CM carries out the directives given to him/her by the Mayor and
Council and also make sure that the CM acts in accordance with our Charter, our ordinances, and state and
federal law. I do not think that chastising the CM in public is productive or appropriate. I do believe that holding
the CM accountable is extremely important and is best done one-on-one or in meetings with the Council as a
whole in executive session. In my time as Mayor, we have asked for the resignation or fired two Clerks and one
City Manager. Many have sensed that I do not come down hard enough on staff when something goes wrong. I
choose to handle discipline matters by taking one-on-one or in extreme circumstances with the entire Council
during our executive sessions. Disciplining the CM in public might get you some political points but it is not
conducive to running an effective government.
6. How would you, as Mayor, structure the work of the City of Tybee staff and the City Council to implement the
Master Plan?
This can be done by ensuring Council is always cognizant of the Short Term Work Plan (STWP). This document
is essentially the “to do list” that emanates from the Master Plan. Local government can seem to the outside
observer as extremely trivial and boring. But by paying careful attention to the STWP document and following
through on its many tasks and objectives, Council can successfully carry out the will of citizens as expressed in
the Island’s master plan. As an example, one portion of the Master Plan calls for the Council to work to become
more prepared for a hurricane. In 2010, we held a simulation exercise in conjunction with the Chatham County
Emergency Management Agency. We learned a lot from the experience. It was focused on making sure the
Island was evacuated properly and efficiently. In 2012, we plan on having another simulation focused on the
aftermath of a major hurricane. I feel very strongly that we must be pro-active in our preparations for a hurricane
and have pushed the City hard to do things like this. But it all comes from the STWP.
It is so important that the Council and Mayor stay focused on the Master Plan as it is the tangible expression of
the will and desires of the community. Not doing so is a sign of disrespect to those who spent countless hours
participating in the process of developing the Master Plan. But once adopted, it cannot sit stale on a shelf.
It is also important that we continually refer back to the Master Plan as we accomplish things and as we make
decisions about the Island’s future. Keeping it at the forefront is very important because it shows the citizens that
the Plan is being adhered to and therefore will encourage people to get involved the next time the Master Plan is
developed.
7. How would you lead the City Council and City staff to be fiscally responsible in overseeing the revenue and
expenses of Tybee?
We start by budgeting conservatively on the revenue side. That is, we assume the worst case scenario. We then
establish some basic goals for the fiscal year in terms of capital improvement projects. Then we scrutinize,
literally line-by-line, the budgets submitted by our department heads (after our City Manager reviews and
eliminates some unnecessary line items). It is also critical to consider the revenue side of the equation in case
there are ways to increase projected revenue. This was done a few years ago when we approved a 50%
increase in parking rates. We have done very, very well financially relative to many other communities around
the nation. We have managed to weather a significant decline in our tax digest. I have been adamant that now is
not the time to raise the millage. By doing a few things: making calculated adjustments to the non-property tax
revenue side, lobbying aggressively for money from the county, state and feds, and by being cautious and
efficient with our expenditures, we have managed to stand today (in 2011) in a better financial position than in
2007. Incredibly, the City’s financial position is being used as a campaign weapon. I do not understand how any
reasonable person could, after evaluating our finances over the last few years, conclude that the City’s finances
are in bad shape. We have low taxes, a AAA bond rating, a healthy fund balance, and extremely positive long
term prospects. We had a 17% decline in our tax digest in one year alone. Yet here we stand in solid fiscal
health.
8. Describe your positions on Tybee’s ongoing ‘hot issues’:
a. The 35-foot height limit, variances, and low density development
The 35-foot height limit is sacrosanct. What started many years ago as a practical matter (our fire apparatus
could not reach anything above this height) has become the one thing that is truly preventing Tybee from
becoming another over-developed tourist trap. We are, first and foremost, a residential community and should
never bend on this issue. Simply put: if we bend, we break. I support the existing ordinances and do not support
extending the reach of zones that allow for more multi-family development. I also believe, however, that it is
important to see the forest for the trees. I have seen several Councils take action that has left them susceptible
to accusations of infringing upon basic property rights. An example would be an effort that would have prevented
a property owner from building on a buildable lot of record because of the fact that in order to reach this property,
a drainage ditch would have to be crossed. The fight over this issue ended with what seemed to be a reasonable
solution. But the fall-out was intense. I was on Council when one night in 2003, we almost saw our 35 foot height
limit go out the window. It can happen if we are not diligent about this issue. People think that it is a dead issue
because it seems to now have widespread support on the Island. That’s what some thought in 2003. It takes four
council members on one night to end it. It is not a dead issue. When the real estate market comes back, which it
will, and I believe quicker than many think, this issue will come up again. Wealthy developers will try to cash in on
what we have here.
b. Tourism/small business interests vs. rights of property owners
Many see this as an either/or scenario. I do not. I believe the interests of businesses and residents are
concurrent. Having a healthy business community is good for the residents as it provides Tybee with
establishments that benefit all of us. Imagine not having a grocery store or restaurants on Tybee. It also helps
us to alleviate the tax burden on our citizens. Because of Stephens-Day, the full time residents have a valuation
that is generally far less than the assessed value. Businesses and rental properties do not enjoy this exemption
and therefore pay taxes based on their actual assessed value. We can do a better job, however, of enforcing the
ordinances already on the books in such a way that the businesses on the Island don’t infringe upon the quality
of life of the residents. We also should continue to look at ways of ensuring that vacation rental properties that
are not managed by local rental agencies are regulated in a more logical and pro-active manner.
c. Parking and other infrastructure needs
I will not support a parking garage unless somebody else pays for it. And I won’t support a garage over 35 feet.
We would need such a structure for 30-40 days a year. It costs about $20,000 per parking space to build one,
not including the land. There are 12,000 cars that come onto this Island on any given summer weekend. There
are 2121 public parking spaces on Tybee. A parking garage with 500 spaces will not solve our problem. The
only way I would support it is if the County or a private business wanted to pay for it. And I have met with
businesses that specialize in parking and there is no way they would build one because it would be a money-loser.
I do NOT support allowing people to park in undesignated parking spaces (ie in front of our houses). The City
does not maintain public right-of-way in front of homes and never will as it is impractical. We should not, then,
allow people to park in front of our homes so the City can make a few extra bucks.
I support private enterprises investing in transportation to and from Tybee. I support shuttles and satellite
parking. I believe there is real promise with such a solution. But there is no easy solution.
d. Ethics ordinance and ethics issues
The City should have a more restrictive ordinance than the State mandates. I fully support a stringent ethics
ordinance. People’s faith in the government cannot be in doubt due to questions about ethical behavior. A
strong ethics ordinance can be viewed by some as a hassle. But the hassle factor is a small price to pay for trust
and faith in our local government.
e. Shore Protection, historic preservation, ways to preserve Tybee’s uniqueness
The City should continue to work to preserve our history and protect our shoreline. We have made some
excellent strides in these areas recently and I have been and will continue to be, if re-elected, supportive of these
efforts. Relative to our uniqueness, I believe that the 35 foot rule is, as I mentioned earlier, the key to keeping
Tybee from becoming something none of us want.
f. The City’s management of the Campground
In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Campground took in about $1,000,000. It cost about $600,000 to run (staff,
facility upgrades, maintenance, etc.). The principal and interest paid to the County was $560,000. So it cost the
City roughly $160,000 last year. Taking away all the other benefits of the facility and looking at it from a purely
financial perspective, this facility makes sense for the long term fiscal health of the City. The amount of money
that the revenue from the Campground contributes to the principal and interest payments has gone up every
year since it was purchased. We are trending towards the break-even point. And once the principal and interest
payments end, the City will enjoy a substantial annual profit. When it was first purchased, I argued that it could
help address our beach renourishment issue. I said that because I knew that our contract with the federal
government whereby the federal government funds approximately 60% of the cost of periodic renourishments
ENDS in 2023. This is right around the time when the debt service payments for the Campground will end. I
believe that elected officials should always look out for the long term even if there is a political cost to be paid in
the short term.
g. Beach renourishment
I have touched on this issue in several of the answers above at length.
9. Are there ethical, personal, legal, career goal, or financial interests/influences that could prevent you from
objectively and fairly representing ALL the citizens of Tybee over the next four years?
No. Since I was elected to City Council at age 28, people have spread rumors about what I wanted to do in
politics. When I ran for Mayor in 2005, some people believed it was only a “stepping stone” to the state House.
People have speculated about these things for years. I don’t know why. I love being the Mayor of Tybee. In fact,
when the opportunity to run for the state House presented itself, I did not to pursue it. If I win this election, I will
serve the entire four year term. My wife and I plan on having another baby soon and service on Tybee allows me
to focus my efforts on making the community where I am raising a family a better place while at the same time not
neglecting my responsibilities as a husband and a dad. Furthermore, I don’t have any financial, legal or ethical
issues that would prevent me from objectively and fairly representing all of the citizens of Tybee for the next four
years.
Shirley Sessions
1. Tell us about yourself, your family, when and how you came to Tybee, and why you decided to run for Mayor.
I fell in love with Tybee while vacationing in the late 80’s – one favorite spot was the old DeSoto Hotel, where
residents and visitors had one commonality – making friends and having fun! In 1994, my sister and family
bought a little Tybee cottage on Chu Terrace and came down from Atlanta every weekend. Finally moved here
permanently in ’98 – just in time to see the old DeSoto torn down. Actions that lead me to notice that maybe we,
as community, should take notice of our historic and environmental treasures and thus began my public service
activities! After servicing as member of the Planning Commission and 8 years on City Council, I felt that
everything that I have contributed and learned to this point in time has put me at a cross roads and the next step
in proving my love of Tybee and service to the community was to seek office as Mayor.
2. What personal qualities and career experiences make you a candidate for Mayor who deserves our support?
Personal qualities that I have tried to cultivate during my personal, professional and public service life include;
Integrity, Patience, a sense of Fairness, Cooperation & Humor, Understanding and having Empathy for others,
being Accountable, Responsible and Courageous. I’ve been fortunate to have experienced a varied career in
the corporate and non-profit fields and as a public servant those opportunities have given me a broad
perspective of what is needed to lead and inspire others. As a member of Tybee's Planning Commission I
learned the importance of balancing historical and environmental issues with our island's growth. During 8 years
of service on Tybee City Council, I've worked hard to be a positive and productive leader. I've never been afraid
to tackle tough or controversial issues, whether it's zoning, safety, or accountability and transparency in
government. I've put forth ideas for improving our city and have not shied away from the tough decisions, all
while working hard to solve problems, bring people together, and produce tangible results to advance the needs
of our community. My managerial background with AT&T as a Contract and Purchasing Manager , and as
Director at United Way Volunteer Center as well as my experience as a small business owner have allowed me
opportunities to work with a variety of personalities, prepare budgets and most of all understand the importance
of having a vision and goal setting.
3. Evaluate the job performance of the current (2010-2011) City Council.
Overall I’m pleased with the accomplishments of this council - to name but a few highlights: we established a
vision and mission statement for the city; we earned several distensions, including a Bicycle Friendly Community,
A Bronze member of the DNR Sustainable Office; approval of revised Ethics & Shore Protection Ordinance.
Grants which helped the city implement eco-friendly energy efficient programs; provide access to the Rails to
Trails bike and pedestrian path, crosswalks for safety at Butler Avenue intersections; a pedestrian crossing at
Highway 80; we didn’t increase our millage rate; we are finalizing the update of our city ordinances; we continued
to value the many volunteers who have given countless hours in helping with committees, bringing
recommendations to council; a new animal building was built by the partnership with local volunteers and staff.
Working with next council: I’m a believer in training, workshops, teambuilding and effective communication.
Having a seasoned council member agree to mentor newer members is an option that I would like to explore.
Quarterly workshops would be important and having council members meet with planning commission more
frequently to discuss policies and procedures and expectations from each other would be a great benefit to all.
Listen to council members suggestions as to how they may like to prepare or revise council agendas, formats and
meetings. Establish procedures on setting goals and processes for evaluating city clerk, city manager, city
attorney and judge. I think it would be good if all council made an effort to occasionally visit the Tybee city’s
court hearings.
4. What are your top three goals to accomplish as our first four-year Mayor of Tybee Island?
As Mayor 1) Public safety will always be a top priority, including staying abreast of Disaster Preparedness
plans and processes, educating the public on the importance of passing the TSPLOST which would provide funds
for widening the Bull River and Lazaretto Bridges, also working with our Police Department on finding realistic
options for updating/improving the current police building with SPOST funding in budget for this project. 2)
Economic/Community Development includes exploring new options, building new, and strengthening current
relationships to help fund future beach nourishment projects, review city processes & finances to uncover
potential revenue generating opportunities and continual partnering with our businesses & supporting our non-
profit organizations is critical to keeping our community vital. 3) Quality of Life - specifically, I would like to
expedite research and take appropriate action to put forth a referendum for a community pool that would offer our
youth and seniors as well as visitors a source for improving health and providing additional recreational options. I
would continue to support our role as a green community by supporting the pursue of innovative, forward-looking
solutions for energy conservation, reducing and recycling our waste, and protecting our environment and our
historic & natural resources. Finally, I would like to create an event to recognize and honor the many volunteers
who serve on city committees and various programs as a way of honoring their time and commitment in helping
maintain our quality of life.
5.Do you support the City Manager (CM) form of government? Yes, it’s always important that new council
members & citizens understand that the role of mayor/council is to set policies and the CM’s role is to guide/direct
city staff to enforce the policies through operational processes. What do you see as the Mayor’s job in working
with/supervising the City Manager?
Although the CM is under the direction of, and their job performance is evaluated by council and mayor
collectively, the Mayor often has more interaction on a daily basis with the CM and in my opinion has a
responsibility to ensure that the CM has clarity on directives and insures there is follow up to meetings and
communicates effectively to council, city clerk, and city attorney any appropriate actions or activities that may be
required. Accountability and transparency is critical and the Mayor’s position offers a unique opportunity to
assure the public and council that the CM is compliant in both areas.
6. How would you, as Mayor, structure the work of the City of Tybee staff and the City Council to implement the
Master Plan?
As Mayor, I would suggest facilitated workshops together with council, CM, planning commission, & Zoning to
review the Master Plan and how it directly aligns with our codes and ordinances, as well as with the vision and
mission statement of our city and those of individual city departments. A review and update of the city’s strategic
plan would be an appropriate time to incorporate proposed structure into the Master Plan; however I think it’s
important that the CM, Department Heads and Staff take the lead in developing tactical processes that affect the
operational work structure once the strategic plan has been drafted and approved.
7. How would you lead the City Council and City staff to be fiscally responsible in overseeing the revenue and
expenses of Tybee?
I would encourage council to work with staff in being more attentive to audit reviews & recommendations and
monthly budget reviews. Introduce a workshop for new/seasoned council members on understanding budget
statements and the budget process in general. Implement a process for reviewing and improving contractual
agreements with suppliers, in determining if there would be more cost savings, reductions and avoidances by
using a centralized or de-centralized purchasing program. Create clear, concise procedures for non-profit
organizations to apply for city funding and an allocation process with expectations and outcomes reported on a
quarterly or semi-annual basis. Pay closer attention to the city’s facilities operation and maintenance uses and
fees.
8. Describe your positions on Tybee’s ongoing ‘hot issues’:
a. The 35-foot height limit, variances, and low density development – I have always and will continue to support
the 35-foot height limit; and will look at each variance individually and believe, that with an updated code
regarding variances will see fewer variances coming before council. Due to the economic downturn, there has
been fewer concerns regarding development; however, density continues to be an issue with short and long term
rentals that the city has worked diligently with the business and residents in finding creative ways to ensure
visitors are not impending on full-time residents quality of life.
b. Tourism/small business interests vs. rights of property owners
It should never be one over the other. Tybee is a vacation community and small businesses are critical to the
continued success and growth of our tax base as well as providing services to our residents, that we have come
to expect and appreciate. However, we as a community cannot afford to risk putting tourism before our property
owners/residents. By continued communication between business owners, city staff and citizens, it doesn’t have
to be a question of business interest vs. rights of property owners. If elected mayor I would like to propose
quarterly city hall meetings in which businesses, residents and city staff would come together to address specific
issue(s) that are critical to maintain our quality of life as well as healthy growth for our business community. For
example, a meeting would be held to address only the issue of PARKING. A facilitated process with input from all
would identify and prioritize appropriate actions for the short term, which could be implemented by staff and
actions that required policy or capital funding would be an action for the council.
c. Parking and other infrastructure needs – The city has continued to use SPLOST funding to improve
infrastructure throughout the community. It is my belief that improvements have been made, particularly in
regards to customer service and parking. Our parking issues must be dissected by staff and processes put into
place for dealing with parking enforcement, and identifying additional parking areas which do not impede on
residents. According to our parking manager, there are approximately 10 days each year where there is
inadequate parking – even with the addition of private parking lots. Proposed ideas for review include:
conversations with the GDOT to determine the feasibility of having overhead informational electronic sign
appropriately placed before the Bull River Bridge informing visitors that there are no public parking spots on
Tybee.
d. Ethics ordinance and ethics issues - I served on council when we first applied for and were given the
designation of a City of Ethics by GMA and supported the original Ethics Ordinance and voted in favor of the
revised ethics ordinance.
e. Shore Protection, historic preservation, ways to preserve Tybee’s uniqueness
I was on council when we implemented the original shore protection ordinance and will continue to support
policies to protect our fragile shore line and dunes. Historic preservation is critical and am proud to have been on
council in early 2000 when our first historic preservation ordinance was proposed and eventually passed to
become part of our city code. Preserving Tybee’s uniqueness means preserving its past, its history and its
environmental resources.
f. The City’s management of the Campground
As a councilmember who supported the purchase of the campground I continue to proud of that decision and
consider it an accomplishment that will ultimately be a valuable asset to future generations. The staff has done
an admiral job of managing the financials for the campground and has in fact exceeded expectations. There has
not been a need to increase taxes to maintain or operate the facility and it adds to Tybee’s uniqueness by
offering an affordable place of solitude and relaxation to visitors of all economic levels.
Beach renourishment: is essential to provide storm protection, a continued recreation source and our local
economic health. There are numerous links that can be found on the city’s website which provides detailed
information on the history of Tybee’s beach renourishment projects throughout the years. Our city’s Beach Task
Force continues to work diligently to make recommendations to mayor and council and to lobby on our behalf with
the state and federal government for continued support. Although there is documented evidence that the
Savannah Harbor dredging is responsible for approximately 80 percent of the long term erosion continues to
prevent the natural flow of sand to our beaches we are still challenged to secure ongoing support through the
Georgia Ports, and other resources. For decades, past projects have been funded at 60% by the federal
government, 30% by the state and remaining cost by local government - Chatham County and Tybee. Although
our state officials continue to offer support, and our federal officials are our allies, due to the cuts in federal
spending, we simply cannot depend on Congress to authorize future funding and will be forced to make tough
decisions and explore progressive options. Developing ongoing relationships, partnering and collaborating with
local and state officials and other entities such as Ga. Ports, Chatham County, Savannah Chamber, etc.,
exploring the possibility of recreation or transportation tax to assist Tybee is helping fund future projects are but a
few potential options. Others may be a bit more drastic in theory, and I’m not prepared to address in a document
such as this, but I would be happy to share one on one.
Are there ethical, personal, legal, career goal, or financial interests/influences that could prevent you from
objectively and fairly representing ALL the citizens of Tybee over the next four years?
None. I’m fortunate to have a strong family support system and my career with United Way affords me a great
deal of flexibility to perform the role and duties that are necessary to represent the citizens of Tybee. I will always
be available to the public, volunteers, staff and fellow elected and appointed officials to discuss issues, and
concerns. I also welcome the option to travel as needed in the role of Tybee’s ambassador and advocate
whenever the need may arise.
Dick Smith
1. Tell us about yourself, your family, when and how you came to Tybee, and why you decided to run for Mayor.
Dick Smith, married to Carolyn. Visited Tybee shortly after moving to Savannah in 1979 and decided to move
here permanently in 1989. I decided to run for Mayor because I believe a change in leadership is needed at this
time; and I I will be an effective leader for Tybee.
2. What personal qualities and career experiences make you a candidate for Mayor who deserves our support?
Personal qualities: Honest, fair, outspoken, good listener, reasonable, wise decision maker. Career experience:
Experienced business owner and manager for 40+ years; held numerous leadership positions in my career and
well respected throughout my industry.
3. Evaluate the job performance of the current (2010-2011) City Council. Compare this Council to the last (2008-
2009) in terms of performance and benefit to the community. Tell us how you would lead the next Council to be
better.
As a Mayoral candidate, I believe it inappropriate to evaluate and/or compare the City Councils. However, my
leadership of the council would consist of open communication, as well as regular evaluation of performance and
benefit to the community.
4. What are your top three goals to accomplish as our first four-year Mayor of Tybee Island?
1) Work to rebuild the city's depleted financial reserve to 6 months. 2) Continually seek funds for beach re-
nourishment through local, state and federal agencies, as well as funding for life guards and ocean rescue. 3)
Work diligently to create and maintain a proper balance among tourists, businesses and residents.
5. Do you support the City Manager form of government? What do you see as the Mayor’s job in working
with/supervising the City Manager?
Yes. I do support the City Manager form of government. The Mayor's job is to see that the City Manager does
the job as dictated by the charter, with regular reviews.
6. How would you, as Mayor, structure the work of the City of Tybee staff and the City Council to implement the
Master Plan?
It a violation of the Charter for the Mayor and Council to have any direct supervisory interaction with the staff
other than the City Manager. Therefore, I would not structure the work of the City of Tybee Staff. I would
encourage the City Council to read, understand and regularly consult the Master Plan and the Charter especially
before making decisions.
7. How would you lead the City Council and City staff to be fiscally responsible in overseeing the revenue and
expenses of Tybee? See answer to # 6 regarding Mayor's association with City staff. Encourage City Council not
to spend money we don't have on what we don't need.
8. Describe your positions on Tybee’s ongoing ‘hot issues’:
a. The 35-foot height limit, variances, and low density development - I support the master plan and zoning
ordinances on these issues.
b. Tourism/small business interests vs. rights of property owners - I will seek to find a balance so that both thrive.
c. Parking and other infrastructure needs - Take action instead of continuing to discuss.
d. Ethics ordinance and ethics issues - Follow the current Ethics ordinance to address any ethics issues.
e. Shore Protection, historic preservation, ways to preserve Tybee’s uniqueness. Shore Protection should be up
to the state. I strongly support historic preservation.
f. The City’s management of the Campground. The city's management of the Campground has greatly improved
under Woody Hemphill's management the last few years. The initial purchase created the existing problem.
g. Beach renourishment - Must lobby to have it.
9. Are there ethical, personal, legal, career goal, or financial interests/influences that could prevent you from
objectively and fairly representing ALL the citizens of Tybee over the next four years? No