NEWS / RELEASES

Melinda Tunner Has Launched Campaign for Ward 6 Council Seat on Hilton Head Island

Melinda Tunner has announced her intention to run for a Hilton Head Island Town Council seat representing Ward 6 in the November 5 General Election.

An eight-year resident of Hilton Head Island, Tunner lives in the Palmetto Hall gated community where she has served on its board as both President and Treasurer.  She previously had a distinguished career with Allstate Insurance – a Fortune 100 company where she was a corporate officer and controller.

Ward 6 is located on the northeastern quadrant of Hilton Head Island. It encompasses all of the gated communities of Port Royal and Palmetto Hall as well as part of Hilton Head Plantation and other neighborhoods in the area of Barker Field, the Hilton Head Island Airport, and Mitchelville.

“Although the election is still months away I feel it is important for me to start now and get fully acquainted with the concerns and thoughts of the wide range of residents living in Ward 6 concerning our Town Government”, said Tunner. “Many issues are being decided right now by this council that will have a long-term impact on our island.”

Town Budget Concerns

Tunner has specific concerns about the burgeoning growth of the Hilton Head Island budget over the past four years. “I believe our town’s budget has been increasing much too fast while our population has hardly grown in recent years,” says Tunner. “The 2025 budget of $168 million is nearly double pre-COVID levels. Employee-related expenses have also grown 41% since 2021.”

Tunner is seeking to replace current Ward 6 councilman Glenn Stanford who has stated he will not be running for re-election. She says her platform is focused on fiscal discipline and transparency plus preserving the beauty and character that makes Hilton Head Island special. “Most of us have picked up our lives and moved here because it is a unique, special place to live,” she said. “Council needs to be making sure its decisions do not detract from the island’s character and beauty.”

Regarding tourism, Hilton Head Island’s main economic driver, Tunner says she recognizes its importance but declares: “I strongly believe our island should not be marketed at levels that result in current residents no longer wanting to live here.”

Melinda Tunner’s Background

A 1983 graduate of Ohio University with a BS degree in business economics she and her husband Mike have two sons and three grandchildren. At Allstate she had a remarkable three-decade career primarily as a senior financial officer where she was responsible for managing programs totaling $2 billion as well as designing and implementing metrics and reporting systems for more than 10,000 local Allstate agencies.

Here in the Hilton Head community she has served on the Board of Directors at Palmetto Hall and volunteered as a Poll Manager and Poll Clerk with the Beaufort County Board of Elections.  Additionally, she volunteers as a mentor with the non-profit international women’s empowerment group “Women Within” and is active in St. Andrews by the Sea church on Hilton Head Island.