Larry Toomer - Mayor of Bluffton
Larry Toomer, a member of Town Council since 2012, who was elected mayor by 73% of the vote, was sworn in as Bluffton’s top official in mid-January. A storm blew into town on January 9, postponing his first day in office by a week. Toomer took it in stride. He has already witnessed numerous significant and consequential events in Bluffton and has weathered them all. He barely reacted to the calendar adjustment.
Toomer is a 4th generation commercial fisherman who owns the Bluffton Oyster Company and Toomer’s Seafood Restaurant. Toomer’s great-grandfather came to Hilton Head in 1913 to oyster and shrimp. Mayor Toomer operates the last oyster shucking factory in South Carolina.
Toomer was born two years after the J. Byrnes Bridge, a drawbridge, was built so people could travel to and from Hilton Head Island. Before that, there was no bridge. He went to first grade in the building, which is now Town Hall. He witnessed segregation. After schools integrated, he was classmates with Councilmember Fred Hamilton, who is a year younger. He graduated from McCracken High School in 1976, which also occupied the same building, which is now Town Hall.
“Most people come to this area and read history books to become familiar with their new hometown,” Larry Toomer said. “I lived through so many major events of the Lowcountry, I can tell you the facts of the events and how it felt to experience them.”
By 12 years old, Toomer was helping with his family business and pulling 100 crab pots a day. By 21 years old, he had bought his first shrimp boat and took his career on the water to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
He “came home” to Bluffton in 1986 and met his wife, Tina, on the beaches of Hilton Head Island. He has grown his family, his career, and his life in Bluffton ever since. Larry and Tina have five children, one “bonus daughter,” 16 grandchildren, and more on the way.
Toomer said the area’s natural resources have provided for his family for generations, and, in turn, his family has provided jobs for this area since 1913. What brings him the most joy is that his children and grandchildren live here and want to stay.
“My life is right where it needs to be.”
Toomer said he has so much gratitude and respect for the May River and our natural resources.
“The local natural environment has given me my career and way of life. I would never sacrifice this for the almighty dollar within the parameters and powers that I have.
“My goal is to always be a voice for environmental quality. Some think the local government can control every element. We can’t. However, we can guide this ship with care and concern for the future. I have more than 22 reasons -- my children and grandchildren -- to protect what is so good about Bluffton. My job as mayor is personal. I want people to be proud of how we took steps to care for our town during this chapter.”