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Volume 21 • Issue 8
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October 3, 2025
Mayoral Candidates Weigh In on Key Issues Facing Isle of Palms The Island Eye News asked the three candidates for mayor of Isle of Palms to share their opinions on several questions important to residents. We will ask them six questions in total and will publish their answers in pairs over the next few issues. Responses to the first two questions list the incumbent first, followed by the other candidates in alphabetical order by last name. In the Oct. 17 issue, the order will be reversed, with a random order used in the Oct. 31 issue. All answers and campaign announcements can be found on our website. 1. Why are you running for office on Isle of Palms? What are your ideas for making life better for the residents of Isle of Palms? PHILLIP POUNDS (INCUMBENT) There are many large, long-term projects competing for limited resources on the city’s horizon, and I would like to continue offering my help as mayor in addressing these for the benefit of all Isle of Palms stakeholders. My background and experience help me manage competing priorities while ensuring we maintain the quality of life in our part of paradise. I’m grateful for your support during my years on council and my first term as mayor, as well as the encouragement from many of you to seek another four-year term. I would like to continue my success in delivering the same types of projects we completed or made significant progress on during my first term: drainage and stormwater improvements, beach access path enhancements including ADA access,
recreation center upgrades, beach maintenance and restoration, a new public dock, increased opportunities for resident engagement, financial stewardship, improved relationships across the Lowcountry and state to pave the way for collaboration, green space around our public dock, and the Waterway Boulevard multi-use path and flood barrier project. We must also create a strategy for implementing the complex recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan, Community Enrichment Plan, Beach Preservation Committee, and the Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan. SCOTT PIERCE When I retired more than 10 years ago, Jennie and I had already lived in many places. We chose Isle of Palms because of its community, natural beauty, and high quality of life. Living here is a true gift. In 2018, I became involved with city government to help with a few projects. That led to serving two years on the Planning Commission and the past four years on City Council. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve. During this time, our region has experienced rapid growth, putting increasing pressure on Isle of Palms. Residents and property owners are absorbing impacts on quality of life as well as the costs of rising demands on city services. I’m running for mayor because I believe residents deserve better, and City Council can do more to preserve our home and prepare for future
generations. We cannot stand still—we must plan ahead. Residents’ quality of life is under pressure from several areas: •Heavy traffic and neighborhood congestion from 10 million bridge crossings each year •A beach eroded to levels not seen since Hurricane Hugo •Aging infrastructure and a growing backlog of capital projects Each of these challenges requires sustainable solutions, long-term planning, and smart investment. I am also concerned about our financial future. You may hear that the city has $50 million in the bank, which sounds strong, but the reality is more complicated: we have more than $40 million in capital projects scheduled over the next two fiscal years, a significant project backlog, and rising expenses that outpace revenues. Our bank balance is not a financial plan. We need foresight and strategic planning to maintain fiscal health. As mayor, I will pursue state and other external support to ensure contributions match real-world usage of public services and the beach, rather than placing the full burden on residents, property owners, and local businesses. We cannot afford to go it alone. The mayor’s role is to work with City Council to deliver results and proactively prepare for the future. Every year we wait is a year lost. I have the experience and record to work with Council and state leaders while making sure residents’ voices are reflected in policy. (Continued on page 2
Andrew Vega Announces Candidacy for Isle of Palms City Council By Andrew Vega Lowcountry native and retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Andrew Vega has announced his candidacy for Isle of Palms City Council. A 2003 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Vega served on active duty from 2003 to 2012 and in the Air Force Reserve from 2012 to 2023. He currently works as an international airline pilot flying the Airbus 350. Vega’s military experience as a C-17 pilot—3,913 flying hours, including more than 1,250 combat hours, as well as serving as an airdrop aircraft commander, evaluator and flight safety officer—placed him in challenging environments where planning, execution and assessment were expected to be accomplished with precision and integrity. “My aviation career has always centered on work-
ing with a team, and those teams are diverse in their makeup because of each person’s area of expertise, life experiences and priorities,” Vega said. “Fostering an environment where decisions are data-driven, risks are appropriately assessed, and concerns or critiques can be honestly expressed is critical every time I step foot in the cockpit, and I believe that type of approach to public service is needed on our council.” Vega said his top priority is preserving freedom by using a common-sense approach to addressing the unique realities the city faces as a South Carolina barrier island. He would like to see an emphasis on ensuring policies provide meaningful and balanced benefits to the entire community. In addition, Vega supports continuing efforts to partner with other municipalities and government agencies to address challenges brought about by explosive regional growth. (Continued on page 3