Longtime councilman faces political newcomer in race to succeed Sulka as Bluffton mayor

Sebastian Lee
·1 min read

Two people filed to run for mayor of Bluffton by Friday’s deadline.

The two candidates are the current Mayor Pro-Tem Larry Toomer and Joseph Castagnino, a parent involved in the push to have 97 books removed from Beaufort County schools in October.

Toomer has been on the Town Council since 2012. He’s the owner of the Bluffton Oyster Factory and the Bluffton Oyster Company restaurant.

Castagnino is a T-Mobile development manger.

The race is nonpartisan.

Last month, when the filing period began, Mayor Lisa Sulka announced her third term as mayor would be her last. Sulka has been the town’s mayor since 2008.

At the same time she announced she would not seek re-election, Sulka officially endorsed Toomer to be her successor and Toomer announced his run.

Town Council

Four people are running for the two open seats on the Town Council, two incumbents seeking re-election and two newcomers.

Unlike Hilton Head, Bluffton doesn’t have a ward system, so these seats are at large. The two candidates with the most votes win the seats. The candidates are:

  • Bridgette Fraizer (i)

  • Bob Burger

  • Dan Wood (i)

  • Tim Wood