Jerry Ashmore and Jorge Guerrero are running for Port Royal council. Here’s where they stand
Two uncontested seats are open on the Port Royal Town Council in the Nov. 7 election. One candidate has been serving for 8 years while the other is running for the first time.
Incumbent Jerry Ashmore and Jorge Guerrero will each win a seat because they were the only candidates to submit the required paperwork.
Ashmore, 58, is seeking a third term on the Town Council. The 24-year resident of Port Royal, who is married with five children, is the director of workforce development and safety at The Greenery, a landscape contractor.
Guerrero, 43, who is married with two kids, is a real estate agent and retired marine. The Harlingen, Texas native came to Beaufort County in 2008 because of his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed 9 times on three different fronts.
Here’s how the candidates responded to questions from the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.
Jerry Ashmore
Please provide your overall grade and supporting details of how the port property development is proceeding. What steps should the town take to ensure it meets the town’s vision and requirements spelled out in the agreements?
Currently I would give it a C -. Despite the fact they are in compliance, the lack of activity and the type of activity they are proposing in the Bluff neighborhood are of particular concern. We have increased the frequency of meetings and requested more updates from Safe Harbor. We also have our attorney reviewing all documents to ensure compliance.
Please provide your overall grade and supporting details for Beaufort County’s preliminary plans for the redevelopment of Ribaut Road. Are there elements you would suggest revisiting?
Currently I would give it a C -. My concern is the intersection of Lady’s Island Drive and Ribaut Road. With the frequent malfunction of the Woods Bridge, this is the most important intersection in northern Beaufort County.
Is it time for Port Royal to regulate short-term rental properties?
We do regulate it from a nuisance perspective. We looked at this about 4 years ago. The town purchased monitoring software and ensured all units are properly licensed and inspected. If you’re asking about placing caps or regulations, I would be willing to consider if there is a serious concern from our constituents.
The town passed a tree ordinance in April that imposes some of the highest financial penalties in South Carolina for taking down “specimen” and “landmark” trees. In what ways can the town protect its trees and environment without hurting the economic investment it needs as it grows?
We agreed to revisit the impact of the ordinance after a trial period and that is set to begin. We have asked that staff compile data on its impact. We have tasked the Redevelopment Commission with drafting an overlay district for the Port Royal Gateway that includes a potential exemption from portions of the ordinance.
What is your vision for Naval Hospital property?
We are participating with the Military Enhancement Committee of Beaufort County to consider its redevelopment if it were to close. We are fortunate to have their presence in the community. But, it’s important to be prepared if it happens. I support something of regional significance for that property that would be impactful for all of northern Beaufort County.
What should the town be doing to ensure there is housing availability for moderate income workers as rents increase along with purchase prices for new and existing homes?
Historically, we have been the recipient of several Tax Credit apartment complexes, so we have been filling that need. We are actively participating in the new housing trust with ARPA dollars and have committed for several years. We are evaluating our development code to make things more favorable for affordable housing.
What non-political skills do you bring to the job? For example, experience working with budgets or land development or land preservation? Can you change a tire?
I’ve worked in HR and contract management. I have been in leadership roles for many years. I have developed budgets for a large company. Yes, I can change a tire and even do an oil change!
Why are you running?
It isn’t about the money, we work a lot of hours for about $0.35/hour. I am running because it’s important to set an example for my children and grandchildren, I feel that we are called to serve others and I care about Port Royal.
Jorge Guerrero
Please provide your overall grade and supporting details of how the port property development is proceeding.
The overall grade that I would give to how the port development is proceeding would be a C-. The developers are on the brink of missing some deadlines that they established themselves and have begun to isolate the property from the citizens that live around there using “Private Property” style signage that wasn’t present ever before. There are two parts to this development, and I look forward to getting on Port Royal Town Council and learning all the details of the sale as well as the build-to-rent.
What steps should the town take to ensure it meets the town’s vision and requirements spelled out in the agreements?
The Town of Port Royal should consider a “tactical pause” on the development to truly see if the agreements that are being executed now continue to fit the vision that we have for Port Royal. This will give us the clarity and necessary information that we will need as we negotiate follow-up agreements that will ultimately develop the remainder of the property/properties involved with the entirety of this development.
Please provide your overall grade and supporting details for Beaufort County’s preliminary plans for the redevelopment of Ribaut Road. Are there elements you would suggest revisiting?
The Ribaut Road redevelopment will cause an increase in traffic and accidents through the major intersections within the Town of Port Royal as some traffic will divert to another route to avoid Ribaut altogether.
My biggest concern is access to the hospital and emergency vehicles such as fire, police, and ambulance services being slowed to one-directional traffic should Ribaut Road go to two lanes.
Next concern is the McTeer Bridge intersection and the need to make this area a priority. We have seen in the last few weeks, when the downtown Woods Memorial Bridge is out, traffic and congestion are a nightmare for most citizens in the local area ultimately causing additional traffic challenges in Port Royal. The current plan does nothing to affect how traffic will get better here. To be fair, I have not seen the supporting information on traffic studies, the design committee’s supporting documentation or Port Royal having a seat at the table in this “reimagine Ribaut” plan. The grade I give is an F.
Is it time for Port Royal to regulate short-term rental properties?
There are many sides to this very important issue as it relates to short-term rental properties within the Town of Port Royal. I do believe that short-term rental properties have contributed to a shortage of affordable homes available for long-term rental and these short-term rentals are not charged a hospitality tax like a hotel is so none of the money comes back to the Town of Port Royal. VRBO and other booking agencies have an agreement with the State of South Carolina to receive the tax funds, and Port Royal only sees a fraction of the funds to support roads, bridges, trash, police, or fire service. This issue is complex, and I await the opportunity to learn more, and hear from citizens about how short-term rentals affect their neighborhoods as well as owners of the short-term rentals and VBRO’s. Once on Port Royal Town Council, I will explore the opportunity to work alongside the Accommodations Tax Committee to gather information, learn more and hear all sides of the short- term rental market and explore what similar municipalities are doing to make this a win-win for the neighborhoods and owners of short-term rentals.
The town passed a tree ordinance in April that imposes some of the highest financial penalties in South Carolina for taking down “specimen” and “landmark” trees. In what ways can the town protect its trees and environment without hurting the economic investment it needs as it grows?
The ordinance will make us all aware of our trees and their value to us. The ordinance allows developers the ability to still afford to execute their plans without going bankrupt and in a manner that keeps our trees at the forefront of their development plans.
What is your vision for Naval Hospital property?
I would like to see the historical significance of the land linked somehow to the history of the Navy in some way. In addition, to keep Port Royal Cool Coastal and Far from Ordinary there should be parts of the 127-arce land and buildings open to the public for families to enjoy like the Beaufort Arsenal Museum downtown.
I look forward to working with the Town of Port Royal on the Town Council to review studies and work with the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and others to develop a plan should the property become available.
What should the town be doing to ensure there is housing availability for moderate-income workers as rents increase along with purchase prices for new and existing homes?
Providing safe and affordable housing for all of our citizens is a high priority. The firemen, police officers, teachers, administrative support staff, restaurant services, restaurant hosts and so many more are at the center of affordable housing. These are the people affected with rents starting at over $2,300 a month at some apartment communities and single-family homes. These are the faces I see searching for an affordable place to live.
If we do not take a stand and solve this problem, the area will become retirees who live in the area six months out of the year without any workers available to provide services. Don’t get me wrong, I am retired from the United States Marine Corps and I love our diversity in Port Royal. The fact of the matter is that we already lack the diversity of new college graduates because of the unaffordability of our area.
I look forward to working with Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust to find a solution to this challenge. A few ideas could be to limit short-term rentals in the Town of Port Royal and ask any developer asking for a new development to provide at least 20% of its inventory to affordable housing.
What non-political skills do you bring to the job? For example, experience working with budgets or land development or land preservation? Can you change a tire?
I bring to the table a plethora of skills and realistic experiences that I have learned in my 43 years on earth. From my 23 years serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps at the highest enlisted level to owning and operating my own business, I like to think I can find myself out of a wet paper bag.
The extensive experience that I bring to the table includes managing people and expectations, dealing with major catastrophic natural events such as hurricanes, managing budgets, understanding real estate acquisitions and transitions as well as development and execution of agreements. I can change tires and I make the best Mexican tacos that most of my friends have ever tasted.
Why are you running?
I am running to be a voice for those who find themselves drowned out of conversations by citizens who speak louder than everyone else so that their issues are heard. I am running for those who know that their concern is valid, important, and relevant but do not want to argue in public about it with others who are passionate about their opposing view. I am running so that my part of Port Royal (Shadow Moss, Picket Fences, Old Shell Point, Port Royal Landing, Willow Point, and more) can have a seat in the room when decisions are being made and resources are being allocated. I am running so that we can all appreciate the uniqueness of who we are, what we represent, and where we live. And finally, I am running because I feel that it is my duty to serve our citizens, in any capacity, while I still have the physical ability, moral capacity and mental acuity to do so.
