The political landscape in Surfside Beach will remain the same, as all three Town Council incumbents were swept to victory in their re-election bids Tuesday.

Doug Samples was the top finisher with 487 votes. Sammy Truett received 434, and Joe Martin received 350 votes.

Each man will serve four more years on the council.

Candidates Bill Blankenship, J.D. Lee and Darrell Willm garnered 100, 115 and 311 votes, respectively.

The counts were complete but unofficial Tuesday night.

Samples and Truett said they look forward to completing projects such as improvements to the town's drainage system that they and the other council members started.

"We haven't really changed people's lives, and we're improving their quality of life," he said. "The town has been run like a business, and that's the way it should be run."

Samples voiced similar sentiments and argued that the council is taking the community in the right direction.

"They do have concerns about development but recognize the effort the council has put forth," he said. "Managing government is about the business of efficient, effective services, and people in Surfside enjoy good services."

Martin did not return calls seeking comment.

The trio will officially begin their new terms May 9, when they will rejoin Judith Tuttle, William McKown, Rebecca Hiatt and Mayor Roy Hyman on the dais.

Managing redevelopment in a town where there is a dearth of commercial and residential properties proved to be the major issue in the election, in which about 22.5 percent of the 3,067 registered voters cast ballots on election day.

Zoning issues brought 38-year-old Kristie Goodall to the polls.

The Hollywood Drive South resident decried what she thinks are zoning inequities in her neighborhood.

"It bothers me because my property is restricted, but ... it seems like there needs to be more uniformity in the way things are zoned," she said. "I think growth is inevitable, and trying to strangle it is going to be a negative impact down the road. I think it needs to be monitored, but not completely cut off."

Ann Keller, 83, said she voted for all the incumbents because of their "pro-life" stance and their handling of taxes.

"For us seniors, that's the biggest worry," she said." "It hasn't interfered with my way of life."

(Top three vote getters won three seats on seven-member council.)Bill Blankenship | 100

J.D. Lee | 115

Joe Martin (incumbent) | 350

Doug Samples (incumbent) | 487

Sammy Truett (incumbent) | 434

Darrell Willm | 311

Source: Debra Herrmann, Surfside Beach town clerk