Note to Bluffton readers: What happens in Hilton Head does not stay in Hilton Head, but spills over to Bluffton and the entire Lowcountry.

Dear fellow citizens,
We have a choice to make. We can continuing hitting the brakes and become a second-rate resort town. Or we can unite our energies and become the most desirable small beach town on the East coast. On Nov. 2, we can take the first step and elect a progressive Town Council.

Having served for eight months on the Mayor’s Vision Task Force, I’ve seen the data that backs up my view: We are on the way down! The recession has only made more evident what’s been happening for over a decade.

Hilton Head Island is a special place, and there’s no reason that its old glory cannot be restored. But before we can do that, we need to open our eyes to some realities. The Heritage tournament is in question, Delta has suspended its flights to Atlanta, the empty mall speaks for itself, home foreclosures abound and unoccupied commercial buildings are everywhere. Retail stores, offices, medical facilities and the Technical College of the Lowcountry have all moved to Bluffton, reducing employment opportunities on the island and reducing the town’s tax revenue. The number of visitors coming to our shores has been in decline for 13 years. We have 500,000 fewer visitors a year than we did at our high point, which represents a loss of $500 million — and given that tourism represents 2/3 of our total economy, that is a big hole.

So what can we do to get back on the road of success?

  • Take up the fight.
  • Elect a capable leader and a pro-business town council.
  • Follow the road map outlined in the Mayor’s Vision Task Force report.
  • Unite the community so that citizens, the private sector and government can work together.
  • Improve the economic situation first and follow up with a rejuvenation plan.

The new town council has a lot of things to do. Here is just a short list of items that need to be of a high priority:

  • Take whatever measures necessary to strengthen the hospitality industry.
  • Get the airport discussion behind us.
  • Revise our land management ordinance and come up with an island-wide land-use plan.
  • Make the Lowcountry a truly green region.
  • Rejuvenate and enhance our infrastructure (both public and private).
  • Diversify the island’s economic base.

While it’s true that the new mayor will only have one vote — the same as other members of Town Council — it’s also true that he has the ability to set the tone and find a way to unite our community. So when you go to vote, ask yourself: What kind of leader will have the best chance of making our community blossom again?

Personally, for me three names stand out (in order of when they entered the race): Tom Crews, Drew Laughlin and Jim Collett. I wish all three could serve on Town Council. But my vote will go to Crews, and here’s why:

About 18 months ago, Tom contacted me after reading a “Last Call” column in which I advocated a fresh start for Hilton Head. We met shortly after, and he walked me through the town’s comprehensive long-term plan, which he was chairing. We started to meet on a regular basis to discuss the state of affairs and what it would take to revitalize our community. At some point Tom decided to run for office, motivated by the simple belief that he could make our community a better place. He felt, as I do, that he is uniquely qualified to extend Charles Fraser’s vision and bring it to a new level.

I quizzed him for hours on various issues, trying to see if he would indeed be capable of devising a plan that would restore and revive Hilton Head. I concluded two things: It can be done, and Tom is the person to do it. Tom has deep roots in the community, his vision as an architect will help him develop a clear picture of what our island can become, his previous involvement with the town allows him to get through the bureaucratic maze, his personality is positive, he is willing to listen and he is steadfast once the right conclusion has been reached. That is the kind of fresh leadership we need.

Start putting a stake in the ground for the future and go out and vote!

E-mail your thoughts to Marc at mfrey@freymedia.com; or comment at www.hiltonheadmonthly.com/blogs