Elected Officials
Mayor William T. (Bill) Young, Jr.
Current Term of Office: July 2009 - June 2013
Total Years Service: June 1989 - Present
Committees: Budget, Airport, LCOG
William T. (Bill) Young, Jr. was sworn in as Mayor of Walterboro in July of 2009.
Beginning In 1989, Young was elected and re-elected by the people of Walterboro to represent them for five consecutive terms on City Council.
In addition to serving three terms as Mayor Pro-tem , Young served as the City's budget chairman for sixteen years. Young currently represents the City of Walterboro on the Lowcountry Council of Governments where he sits on the Executive Board and serves as secretary. Young represents Colleton County on LCOG's Transportation Committee and serves as City Council's liaison to Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary Committee. He serves as a member of the Walterboro-Colleton Airport Commission where he is vice-chairman, the Walterboro Tourism Commission, the Colleton County Economic Alliance, and is a founding board member of The Colleton Center.
Young has a BA degree from the University of SC and an M.Ed degree in administration and supervision from the Citadel. He is also a graduate of the SC Municipal Association's Institute of Government.
Young grew up working in his family's grocery business. After graduating from college, he accepted a position as band director for the Walterboro Schools, a job he held for his entire career of 32 years. During his tenure as band director, Young's bands won 9 State Championships and 13 consecutive Lower State Championships. His bands also represented South Carolina in a Presidential Inaugural parade, The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The band performed for numerous gubernatorial inaugurals. Young was elected and served as president of the SC Band Directors Association and has been inducted into the SC Band Directors Hall of Fame and the SC Music Educators Hall of Fame. The band's field at Colleton County High School bears his name. Early in his career, Young was named the state's outstanding young educator by the SC Jaycees. In 2005, Young was awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent in recognition of his dedication, commitment and leadership on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina.
Young retired from teaching in 2005 and has worked in real estate sales with Remax Southern since that time. He is a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church where he is an ordained Elder. His wife Janice is an early childhood teacher at the Education Center. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Robert "Bobby" Bonds
Current Term of Office: July 2011 - June 2015
Total Years Service: July 2011 - Present
Committees: City Appearance Board
Mr. Bonds was born in Aiken. He graduated from Hale High School in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1982. He attended the College of Charleston and then transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with a Political Science degree in 1986. He graduated from Campbell University School of Law in Buies Creek, NC with a Juris Doctor degree in 1990. He moved to Walterboro in August of 1990 where he began his legal career at the law firm of Bogoslow and Jones. Mr. Bonds has continued to reside in Walterboro since 1990 and is presently a partner in the law firm of Hetrick, Harvin & Bonds.
Mr. Bonds is married to Harriett Ashby Bonds, who is also an attorney. They have three children and are members of Bethel Methodist Church. Mr. Bonds is a member of the Walterboro Rotary Club and in the past has served as a member of the Colleton County Board of Voter Registration and the Walterboro-Colleton Planning Commission. In 2011, he was elected to the Walterboro City Council.
Dwayne Buckner
Current Term of Office: July 2009 - June 2013
Total Years Service: July 2009 - Present
Committees: City Appearance
Born and raised in Walterboro, Mr. Buckner is a 1990 graduate of Walterboro High School. A former Colleton County public school teacher and attorney, he currently serves as the Executive Director of Lowcountry Community Action Agency. He is also the founder and Broker-in-Charge of Interstate Realty and the founder and former managing editor of The Dispatch newspaper. He is married and has 3 children.
• B.A., South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC
• J.D., Shepard Broad Law Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Former Assistant Public Defender, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Former White House Intern, Washington, DC
• Member, Rotary International, Walterboro
• Member, Board of Directors, Colleton County Habitat For Humanity
• Member, St. Peter's AME Church, Walterboro
Reason for serving on City Council? Walterboro is my home, and I love our city and its residents. As a Walterboro City Council member, I bring new ideas, my legal training as an attorney, my background as a small business owner, and the persistence and resolve necessary to make Walterboro an even greater city.
Tom Lohr
Current Term of Office: July, 2009 – June, 2013
Total Years of Service: July 2009 - Present
Committees: Firemen Insurance Fund Board of Trustees
Mr. Lohr is a native of North Carolina who has lived in Walterboro over 30 years. He retired as Associate Superintendent of Schools for Colleton County in 2001; he also served as a principal, as well as Interim Superintendent for the 1999 – 2000 school years. He is married to the former Patti Barr of Holly Hill and they have five children and five grandchildren. Tom and Patti attend St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Walterboro.
• BA High Point University, High Point, N.C.
• M. Ed. University of North Carolina
• Post Graduate Work at University of North Carolina and University of South Carolina
• Instructional Leadership Award from Colleton County Schools; Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Education from Walterboro/Colleton County Chamber of Commerce
Reason for serving on Council? "My undergraduate major was History and Political Science; additionally, I felt that I owed some type of service to the community for the many kindnesses extended to me and to my family over the years."
Charles Lucas (Mayor Pro Tem)
Current Term of Office: July 2009 - June 2013
Total Years Service: July 2005 - Present
Committees: Budget, Joint Railroad Right of Way
Mr. Lucas was born and raised in Walterboro, graduating from Walterboro High School in 1966. He is co-owner and Broker in Charge of Walterboro Realty, LLC, and a Special Education teacher at Colleton Middle School. His wife of 35 years is Cindy (Hudson) and they have two daughters, Heather and Holly. He is currently serving on the Board of Vestry Member for St. Jude's Episcopal Church and a board member of Live Oak Cemetery.
- He served 25 years in the Army which included two Viet Nam combat tours, two tours in Germany, and a combat tour in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, retired as a Master Warrant Officer. Was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 54 Air Medals, Meritorious Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.
- Master of Education in Special Education, from Georgia Southern University; a Bachelor Degree in Professional Aeronautics, from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; the Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Master Warrant Officer Advanced Course, and the Army Aviation Safety Course.
- Past Council Representative for the City Appearance Board.
- Past Chairman of the Walterboro Planning Commission.
Reason for Serving on City Council? "To be involved with and help guide the growth of the City of Walterboro."
Randy Peters
Current Term of Office: July 2011 - June 2015
Total Years Service: July 2007 - Present
Committees: Budget, Economic Development
Randy was born in the City of Walterboro, graduated John C. Calhoun Academy in 1973 and attended Palmer Business College in Charleston. He is President and General Manager of Lowcountry Office Supply, Inc. which he established in 1976. Randy is married to Marilyn B. Peters. He has two children and grandchildren.
- Lifelong Member of Bethel United Methodist Church
- Past Master Unity Masonic Lodge #55
- Past Exalted Ruler Walterboro Elks Lodge #1988
- Currently serves on Board of Trustees at Walterboro Elks Lodge #1988 and is past chairman of that board
- Past board member Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce, Colleton County Arts Council, Dogwood Hills Country Club and was one of the orginal committee members of the Colleton County Rice Festival.
Hobbies include local theater, cooking, playing golf, and spending time with his two dogs, Molly and Nicky.
Reason for serving on City Council? "To strive to provide the very best constituent service to all of the citizens of Walterboro and be a part of the positive growth that is going to make the City of Walterboro a better place to work and live."
Paul Siegel
Current Term of Office: July 2011 - June 2015
Total Years Service: July 2011 - Present
Committee: North Lemacks Street Revitalization Committee
Paul Siegel is a native of Walterboro and is a graduate of Walterboro High School, class of 1966. He is an attorney and has practiced continuously in Walterboro since 1977. Paul is married to Jayne Polk Siegel. He has three sons, Josh, Joseph, and Ben. He is President of Congregation Temple Mt. Sinai in Walterboro.
He received his BA in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970 and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina in 1977. His office is at 111 Walter Street across from the Courthouse.
His public service includes:
- Secretary 1977-1984 and Chairman 1984-1991,Colleton County Election Commission
- County Attorney for Colleton County, South Carolina1991-2001
- Board Member, Lowcountry Legal Assistance Project 1984-1999
- Board Member, Public Defender Corporation 1978-1994
- President, South Carolina Bnai Brith Association of South Carolina 1984
- President, Colleton Disabilities Foundation 2002 to present
- Trustee-Colleton County Medical Center 2001-2007
- Ex-officio member 2007-2012
- President, Colleton County Bar Association, 1998-2000
- Board of Governors 1999-2002, S.C. Bar Association
- Former Board Member of Chamber of Commerce, Colleton County Board of Realtors, Downtown Walterboro Development Corporation
Reason for serving on City Council? "For 90 years, my father and grandfather expressed their love for the city of Walterboro through public service. Their civic pride inspired me to commit my life, as well, to this community."