Maryanne Connelly

Candidate for Town Council

Two year term | Contested | Two to be selected

My first term as a member of the Town Council is marked with thoughtful consideration and execution of policies in the interest of property owners as well as our visitors. Along with the Mayor and my fellow Council members, we have made a positive impact on the future direction of the Town. I am asking to be re-elected to serve the Kiawah community.

My commitment to community started with a Building and Zoning issue with my New Jersey home. I decided to become part of the solution to this problem. I was appointed to the Planning Board and the Environmental Commission and subsequently elected to Town Council, also serving as Police Commissioner for nine years before being elected Mayor.

In 2000 I was a candidate for the United States Congress, NJ 7.

Our environment is front and center to all who live here. I supported the passage of the Single-Use Plastics ban and an ordinance to amend our comprehensive plan to adopt changes resulting from the Flood Mitigation and Sea Level Rise studies. I will continue to fight for the elimination of rodenticides to protect our bobcats. Environmental issues require constant monitoring, and I pledge active involvement in them.

As head of Public Safety, my committee meets regularly with our public safety agencies to review monthly departmental activity. The most significant activity that has been taken is the implementation of a full-time force patrolling Kiawah 24/7.

Alongside my commitment to the Town, I am a volunteer for the Respite Care Program of Charleston County, I participate in Habitat’s Women Build, and serve as a board member for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity.

My professional background as a Human Resources Executive at AT&T involved the development and implementation of corporate strategy in several AT&T businesses including Business Services, International, Consumer Products, and Bell Laboratories. I completed several Executive Development Programs including the Tuck School at Dartmouth and the Thunderbird School of International Business. I was a member of the executive planning team for the AT&T Divestiture.

My educational background includes a BS- St. Elizabeth’s University, MBA- Fairleigh Dickinson University, MA Education and Special Education Certification – St. Peter’s University.

My husband Ed Marks and I have lived on Kiawah full-time for five years but have been coming to Kiawah since the purchase of our property in 1984.

Contact: fanwood1@gmail.com