Three Republicans compete for Council County seat being vacated by Von Harten

Three Republican candidates, Bill Bootle, Brian Flewellingand Tommy O'Brien will vie in Tuesday's primary for outgoing Skeet Von Harten's Beaufort County Council District 9 seat.

Von Harten endorsed Bootle.

Bootle does not consider himself a politician, said he hopes to transfer some of the skills used to run a successful business, such as common sense, to county government. Bootle is retired and said he has the time available for the job. Bootle has been involved in Leadership Beaufort and was president of the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry.

For Bootle, education is the most important issue facing the county.

"We have to see some results for the money we're spending," he said.

As far as the workforce, Bootle said jobs that pay well are needed to entice people to remain in the area.

With fuel rising to $4 per gallon, Bootle said everyone, including those in government, needs to tighten their belts.

Flewelling has spent his life in service from civic involvement to being a foster parent. He said running for County Council was the next step.

"Obviously, I became involved because I had some concerns about the direction that Beaufort was taking," he said. "If I want to see action, I need to take my turn and step up to the plate."

Flewelling said most of his concerns are related to planning and zoning, particularly in the S.C. 170 and S.C. 280 area. He said he wants to keep the area from looking like U.S. 278 in Bluffton. In relation to growth, he said a major concern he has heard from people is water quality and what can be done to preserve it.

Flewelling said that the County Council also needs to use its budgetary oversight to hold the school board accountable for the money spent and the results promised. He said he supports openness with government and has created a Web site, www.brianflewelling.com, to communicate with residents.

O'Brien, said one of the biggest issues facing Beaufort County is a lack of fiscal constraint on the part of county entities. He said that the government should not spend money frivolously such as when it replaces equipment and vehicles unnecessarily.

O'Brien said he also thinks there should be equitable rules and enforcement without favoritism. He cited a discrepancy between home-based businesses and commercial businesses in the sign ordinances that he said showed favoritism to home-based business owners.

Over the past 10 years, O'Brien has been vocal on many issues such as development. He said many of his suggested solutions have not been considered and that prompted his decision to run for the council seat. O'Brien has run for the seat twice.