Billy Keyserling brings a lifetime of leadership and administrative experience to the job of Mayor of Beaufort. These are some of his local, state, and national accomplishments:

• Billy served on City Council in the 1990s where he earned a reputation as councilman who listened to the concerns of his constituents, carefully oversaw taxpayers’ dollars and was a voice of reason and mature thinking.
• Billy was elected to two terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing northern Beaufort County. He led the fight against storing nuclear waste in our state and worked to eliminate special interest tax exemptions and remove the sales tax on food. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Joint House and Senate Legislative Committee on Energy.
• Billy spent16 years in Washington DC, working with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He also coordinated an International Human Rights initiative to rescue people from the former USSR.
• Billy has created and managed two successful local businesses — the most recent being Keyserling Real Estate Company, which was sold in 2006.
• Billy is known for his community service and contributions to many key organizations in the Beaufort area. He held or holds leadership positions in:
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Trash & Litter Control
  • Mainstreet Beaufort USA
  • Beaufort Marine Institute
  • SC Arts Alliance
  • Navy League (President)
  • SC Affordable Housing Coalition
  • YMCA Capital Campaign (Co-Chairman)
  • Vote Yes, Highway 170 Widening Campaign
  • Arts Council of Beaufort (President)
  • Beaufort Little Theatre
  • Governor’s Commission on Film Industry (Chairman)
• He is the founder of the Beaufort Three Century Project.
• Billy is a native of Beaufort, eldest son of the late Dr. Herbert Keyserling and former State Representative Harriet Keyserling. He holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies (Magna Cum Laude) from Brandeis University and a graduate degree in Public Communications from Boston University.