Kiawah Council unchanged

Residents vote all 4 members into seats for another 2 years Kiawah Island - Residents voted Tuesday to keep all four members of Town Council for another two years, shutting out two newcomers vying for the at-large seats. With Mayor William G. Wert unopposed in his race for a third term, the face of town government will not change. Incumbents had little trouble defeating the newcomers. Charles R. Lipuma received votes from 82 percent of those casting ballots, G. Steven Orban received 75 percent, Alan L. Burnaford received 73 percent and Donald H. McIver received 63 percent, according to unofficial results. Newcomers Armand B. Glassman and Thomas H. Winkleman received 37 and 35 percent, respectively. Mayor Wert got 76 percent, or 284 of the 376 votes cast. Only 33 percent of the town's registered voters cast ballots. The mayor and councilmen will be sworn in Friday, after the results are certified. McIver said he is looking forward to working with the same group for another two years. "While we haven't always agreed on every issue, we respect one another," McIver said. "Each of us brings a little different perspective to the issues." The issue at the top of all members' list is improving roads on both Kiawah and Johns islands. Burnaford said he would like council to work with other entities - the town of Seabrook Island, the Johns Island Council and the Coastal Conservation League - to develop a road infrastructure for Johns Island. Improvements to the Kiawah Island Parkway should start after the Senior PGA Championship in May, Lipuma said. The remaining development of the island is also a prominent issue for council, he said. Orban could not be reached for comment, but previously said he hoped to use his experience in construction to oversee Parkway improvements.

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