Florence residents excited about races

Toy Johnson, 48, is owner of Toy Barber Stylist in downtown Florence and will be voting for the first time in his life.

Johnson, who said he has a checkered past, is voting for Barack Obama.

“This is the first time I ever been registered to vote,” Johnson said. “Obama made the difference for me because being in and out of prison, a lot of people in Florence, they took away our privilege to bear arms and vote.

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“And now things are different, a lot of guys don’t realize that. But you know, me being an ex-convicted felon, I’m letting them know you can register to vote now,” he said. “I never cared before now. I’m not voting for Obama because he’s a black man, I’m voting for him because he’s an intelligent man.”

Johnson said he is leaning toward Rocky Pearce for Florence mayor.

“Rocky has always done things for Florence,” he said. “He helped us out with the technology center and he’s done things for our race. I like Rocky.”

And for Florence County sheriff, Johnson said, “Jimmy Gregg has always been a good guy. He played fair. It was just me, I was the problem. That’s why I’m probably leaning toward Jimmy.”

Johnson’s shop once belonged to Robert Scott. Johnson said it was founded in 1938 and is the oldest black barbershop in town.

“I used to cut hair here 25 years ago with the original owner,” he said while waiting for a customer to slide into an antique barber’s chair. “I been in and out of trouble all my life, but now I’m doing the right thing.”

Laline Gibson, 62, said she is going with McCain and Palin because she “just admires Palin.”

And she said she was sticking with Kenney Boone for sheriff. She declined to give a reason.

John Turner, 53, is a Florence certified public accountant.

“I think we’re in serious trouble no matter who wins the presidency,” he said. “I don’t like either one of them. I’d like to vote for ‘none of the above’ and start again. I’ll vote for McCain, but I’m not really happy about it.”

Turner said the economy is a mess. He’s never seen it like this before.

“The more the government messes with it, the worse it gets,” he said.

Although he had no comments on the sheriff’s race, other than saying, “I think they’re two good choices,” he said he is curious about why Jimmy Gregg decided to run again.

Turner laughed when asked about the mayor’s race.

“How embarrassing that we can’t elect a mayor in this town,” he said. “I may vote for Rocky, although I’m not certain yet.”

Ricky Hill, 41, had just limped into a service station in a late model Jeep Wrangler. He was putting a little gasoline in it, but the battery died when he turned off the ignition. He was waiting for somebody to come jump him off.

“I’m a Republican all the way,” he said. “To me, it just seems like whoever gets in there is kind of like a puppet anyhow. They are going to be told what to do, how to do it and when to do it. It really doesn’t make that much difference to me, I’m just a Republican.”

Hill said he doesn’t know too much about the sheriff or mayor’s races because his priority has been the presidential contest.

Donnie Durham, 39, is going for McCain for many different reasons.

“McCain has proven his values for supporting the country,” he said. “I don’t agree with Obama’s lack of support for the traditions of this country. Specifically, he won’t pledge allegiance to the American flag.

“He thinks the pledge needs to be changed. He thinks the flag needs to be changed — the flag that my father and grandfather fought to protect. He thinks the National Anthem needs to be changed because of the bombs bursting in air and how that symbolizes violence. He thinks we need to change the song to some ‘let’s hold hands-type anthem.’ I just don’t think he supports our country.”

Durham doesn’t appreciate Obama, Biden and the whole Democratic Party blaming President George Bush for the country’s economic woes, and tying in McCain to boot.

“They blame them for the bailouts, but that stems back from the Clinton years, not George Bush, and that’s factual,” he said. “They talk about Obama and his whole campaign mantra of change. Well, we got change two years ago when the Democrats took control of Congress.”

And Durham said the country has seen change.

“There’s been lots of change in the economic, business and financial areas,” he said. “They talk about how the financial institutions needed bailing out. Hillary (Clinton) said while campaigning at Obama’s side that financial institutions got into such a dire state of affairs and the Republicans bailed them out. The Republicans didn’t bail them out, Congress did.”

Todd Fulmer, 27, is a technical writer.

“I’m voting for Obama,” he said. “I’ve seen the policies he plans to initiate. I think his tax policies are more fair and will help us get out of this economic crisis going on now.”

Fulmer said he hasn’t kept up with the mayoral and sheriff’s races, though.

Etheleen Gurley, 37, is co-owner of Double Impact Hair Salon.

She’s a Democrat who is voting for Obama.

But she’s not voting Democrat in the sheriff’s race.

“I want Kenney Boone to stay in,” she said. “He’s done a good job.”

Gurley hasn’t made her mind up about the mayoral race.

Kathleen Bacote is the other co-owner of Double Impact Hair Salon.

She’s voting for Obama and Boone, too.

“There’s so much going on around here that we need to keep Kenney Boone in office,” she said. “He’s been a good sheriff who has kept on top of things.”

Les Maynard, 82, is an insurance adjuster and a McCain, Pearce and Boone supporter.

“There’s no question in my mind that McCain is the man to be president,” he said “He’s got more experience and everything you can think of that goes along with government. He’s a proven, brave person.

“He’s a military man who was a prisoner of war for 5½ years. He survived some pretty terrible things, so I think he can face up to anything that comes along in this country in the next four years.”

Maynard said he’s seen many presidents and a great deal of ups and downs in his lifetime.

“I am a full-fledged Republican, not that I wouldn’t vote for a Democrat if I felt he was the better man,” he said. “But, in this case, there’s no doubt in my mind that McCain is the best man for job.

“I’ve known Rocky for a long time and think he did a good job when he was mayor,” he said. “I know Mr. Wukela carries a lot of good credentials with him, but because I know Rocky personally, I’m committed to him.”

Maynard also knows Boone well.

“Jim Gregg did good job while he in but chose to retire,” Maynard said, “and for some personal reason, he decided to come back and run against Kenney. But I think Kenney has done a wonderful job as our sheriff.”

Rebecca Smith, 71, is a non-committed, retired principal of McLauren Elementary School.

“I just think it’s such a privilege that we have to vote and it’s wonderful to see people so excited about the presidential election,” she said. “I think both candidates are qualified and I don’t think we can lose if we just pull together.”

Ditto for the mayoral and sheriff’s contests.

“We have wonderful candidates running for mayor and sheriff,” she said. “I just think it’s the first time I can remember that if one side or the other wins, it’s going to be OK. I haven’t made up my mind yet and I’m about the only one around who hasn’t voted yet.”