Candidates agree public should have say on Sunday alcohol sales

Florence’s mayoral and city council hopefuls generally agree voters should have a say in a referendum that could allow Sunday alcohol sales, although some candidates oppose such a change, and for various reasons.

The referendum, if passed, would allow restaurants to obtain “temporary,” 24-hour permits for the Sunday sale of alcohol by the drink. It doesn’t apply to packaged alcohol sales.

Earlier this month, council in a 5-2 vote passed an ordinance to hold the referendum.

Council members Bill Bradham, Buddy Brand, Bobby Holland, Ed Robinson and Billy D. Williams voted in favor of the ordinance, while Mayor Frank Willis and councilman Rick Woodard voted against it.

Mayoral candidates
Stephen J. Wukela, the Democratic candidate, said the city faces such issues as crime and gangs that should take precedence over Sunday alcohol sales.

“I am a great believer in personal liberty, but I don’t regard the restriction on my ability to purchase alcohol on Sunday as that significant an infringement on my personal liberty,” he said.

Wukela said that if he were serving as mayor, he would have voted against the referendum.

Rocky Pearce, running as an independent candidate, said the public has the right to decide on Sunday alcohol sales.

He said he would have voted against the ordinance, however, because the referendum would extend alcohol sales from midnight Sunday until 2 a.m. He said that while serving as mayor, he saw the problems that can occur during those hours.

“In Florence, you can’t get a Chick-Fil-A sandwich on Sunday,” Pearce said, adding that “it’s good to have a day of rest from our labors,” as employees of that restaurant chain do.

Cities such as Charleston have passed ordinances requiring bars to close at midnight Sunday, thereby regulating only establishments and not the sale of alcohol, said Howard Duvall, executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

Council candidates
Bobby Holland, a Republican, is seeking re-election to a fourth term. He voted in favor of the ordinance to hold the referendum.

He said he’s on the fence about the issue, but thinks the voters should make the choice.

“It’s not like we are going to make that decision; we’re going to let the people make that decision,” Holland said.

Steve Powers, running as a Democrat, said he would “hardly vote against” a referendum so that voters could have a say.

“I’ve never had a problem with the people deciding what they want,” he said. “I’ve always believed in letting them have that choice. The best way of voicing that choice is letting them vote on it.”

Octavia Williams-Blake, also running as a Democrat, said she’s in favor of holding the referendum.

“I think city council did the right thing in letting the voters decide,” she said.

Glynn Willis, running as a Republican, said he would vote against Sunday alcohol sales in the referendum, “but I will certainly respect the will of the voters in November.”

He said he opposes Sunday alcohol sales because of faith-based values and the fact that some Florence bars and taverns are near residential areas.

“I don’t think this change will be a positive thing for these neighborhoods,” Willis said.