Hollywood ex-mayor had tumultuous term

HOLLYWOOD — Dr. Gerald Schuster, a former mayor whose one term in office was marked by public feuds with council members, died Thursday.

He was 78.

Schuster had been hospitalized for almost two weeks for treatment of heart problems, said

Frank Marvin, owner of Marvin's Meats in Hollywood and a longtime friend of Schuster.

He called Schuster "a good friend that I could talk to and come away thinking that he had good ideas."

Schuster's four years as mayor were a tumultuous era in which he and Town Council ended up suing each other over control of the reigns of government. Schuster won in court but his opponents on council were slow to concede.

They tried to persuade voters to change the town's form of government to weaken Schuster's powers as mayor.

Tensions sometimes ran high at council meetings, where law enforcement officers were often present to assure order in meetings that often had standing-room-only turnouts.

Schuster, a retired orthopedic surgeon who came to the Lowcountry from Maryland, was elected Hollywood's mayor in 2003.

In that race, Schuster, who was white, edged two black candidates — including a 14-year incumbent mayor — in an election in which 70 percent of the voters were black.

Almost immediately after being sworn in, Schuster's plans for expanding water and sewer service, building a new town hall and library, annexing new parcels and developments and approving proposed new residential and commercial developments met with council opposition.

Schuster wanted to add to the town's staff and to hire someone to apply for grants.

Schuster said opposition to him was at least partly racially motivated. His opponents questioned the wisdom of expanding the town's size and population, and said that Schuster didn't make efforts to work with them on the projects he proposed.

Two years into his term, Hollywood voters changed some faces on council, giving Schuster a slim majority of political allies on the panel. Schuster was defeated in 2007. He had said recently that he hoped to write a book about his experiences in town government.

Schuster will be remembered for trying to improve the town in the face of resistance, Marvin said.

Schuster, Marvin said, "Was a gentleman, a very smart individual who wanted to see Hollywood change for the better. He tried his best to improve living conditions in Hollywood and also education. He was a very good friend and I will never forget him."

J. Henry Stuhr Inc. is handling the arrangements. A visitation is set for noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel at 3360 Glenn Mc- Connell Parkway. The funeral will follow at the same chapel. Burial will be private.