BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) — What was supposed to be a routine day for the Beaufort County Council turned into a tense and divided vote, resulting in a new chairperson leading the council on Thursday. The change came after a close decision between current chairman Joe Passiment and councilwoman Alice Howard. Councilman Tom Reitz kicked off the discussion by asking for public input on who should take the top spot, but when no one stepped forward, the council proceeded with the vote. Two candidates were nominated: Passiment, who had been chairman for two terms, and Howard, a member of the council. In a narrow 6-5 vote, Howard came out ahead, with Reitz casting the deciding ballot. "That was for you," Reitz said, pointing toward the audience after the vote was tallied. Passiment’s leadership had been marked by criticism over a lack of transparency, and Howard is eager to change that dynamic. In her first comments as chairperson, she made it clear that rebuilding trust with the public would be a top priority. “My goal is to have as few executive sessions as possible,” Howard said. "We can have workshops to discuss things where we don’t take a vote, but we can discuss them." The newly elected chair also discussed another pressing issue, the Highway 278 project. After voters rejected a sales tax increase to fund the project, Howard said the council will need to find alternative ways to finance it. “That’s going to take some creative thinking from the entire body and from our local government and other local governments, because obviously the 1% sales tax was not something people wanted,” she said. Although WSAV tried to speak to Former Chairman Passiment, he left without making comment.  Beaufort County residents will get their first look at how Howard’s leadership will shape the council’s direction at the first county council workshop on Jan. 8, followed by a regular session on Jan. 13.