Town Council (2009-2011)

Mayor, William Wert 

Bill graduated from the State University of New York and Union College in Schenectady, NY, with a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After two years in the Maritime Industry and four years with the U.S. Navy, he joined the General Electric Company in 1966. Over the next 33 years with GE, he held a variety of domestic and international management positions. He was elected a GE Vice President in 1993, retired in June of 1999, and he and his wife Pat relocated to Kiawah. After serving as the Chairman of the Kiawah Island Community Association’s Governance Committee, he was elected to the KICA Board in 2000 and served his last year on the Board as President. He was elected Mayor of the Town of Kiawah Island in December 2002, reelected to a second term in December 2004, and a third term in December 2006.

He has served on the Boards of Directors of hospitals, charity organizations, and golf clubs. Since relocating to Kiawah, Pat and he have been active with the MUSC Children’s Hospital, MUSC Storm Eye Institute, Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, Our Lady of Mercy Out Reach Program, Charleston Stage, the Mt. Zion Elementary School and the restoration of the Hebron Presbyterian Church on John’s Island. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

Mayor Pro Tempore, Alan Burnaford

I have had two careers. During my military career, I spent six years on active duty and fourteen years in the reserves as a naval aviator, and retired as a LtCol in the Marine Corps. Nineteen of my thirty years of corporate life were spent in Europe and Asia.   As a resident since 2000, a member of the Town’s Planning Commission for three years, (Chairman in 2004), and member of the Kiawah Island Town Council for the past six years.

Charles Lipuma

Since moving to Kiawah in 1992 I have been very active in Town and Community affairs. In 1993 I was elected to Kiawah’s first Planning Commission and served as chairman for 10 years. Other service includes Committee Chair for the design and construction of Town Hall, Kiawah’s representative to Johns Island Council and in 2001Town representative on Charleston County’s Lower Johns Island Road Study. In addition I served on KICA’s Governance Committee.

In 2004 I was elected Town Councilman and given responsibility for Environmental Affairs and Performing and Visual Arts. I promoted and managed the successful East End Beach Renourishment Project, coordinated a complete updating of the Town’s Comprehensive Beach Management Plan and drafted our first Beach Management Policy.

Steve Orban

My wife, Ginny, and I have been full time residents of Kiawah since 1998. For the past four years I have been a member of Town Council, having served as chairman of the Public Works and Environmental Committees, and as a member of the Ways and Means Committee. I am also a member, and past chairman of KICA’s MR&R Committee, have served on the KPOG board, and been on the Vestry at the Church of Our Saviour. I presently serve as chairman of MR&R’s Wooden Bridge Sub-committee.

I am a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Civil Engineering. Prior to retirement I was a Division President of Perini Corporation – a major construction firm located in Boston.

Harry McHugh

My wife, Toni, and I have lived on Kiawah for ten years.  We began coming to Kiawah on vacation with our two daughters in the early 80’s.  Kiawah was perfect for us with its beaches, recreational facilities, and vitality; all integrated with incredible natural beauty.  

As a member of Town Council, my focus will be in maintaining the wonderful asset that is our community.  Beyond the care for our beaches and better infrastructure integration with off island amenities, we need to be vigilant in the careful development of the remainder of our island and to work to see that Kiawah’s voice is heard in Charleston County. I am a marketing graduate from the University of Wisconsin’s business school.  The first eighteen years of my business career was spent with AT&T.  From that point on, I have been involved in entrepreneurial activities, including ventures in robotic welding, accounts receivable management and real estate development. I do believe that Kiawah must be seen as an active part of the Sea Island Community and not an isolated gated community for the advantaged.  To that end I am the Co-Founder of the Sea Island Youth Golf and Tennis Program.