LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Rocky Pearce best choice for mayor of Florence

By: Dear Editor: | SCNow
Published: October 16, 2008

I have lived in Florence all my life, and I remember when Rocky Pearce was mayor. Florence grew under his leadership.

That is why it is so hard for me to sit by the sideline when Stephen Wukela and his campaign insult Mr. Pearce the way they have done constantly since Mr. Pearce joined the race. On the other hand, I have not heard Rocky Pearce say one negative thing about Mr. Wukela.

The truth is much more telling than Wukela’s fiction.

Rocky Pearce brought growth and good jobs to Florence, and he brought transparency and accountability to city government with the Public Access Channel. He served the entire community instead of appealing only to the far left as his opponent has done.

He was a caring mayor who brought Habitat for Humanity to build better homes for poor people. Our neighborhoods were safer when Rocky Pearce was mayor. I have met Rocky Pearce on several occasions, and I firmly believe he is a stand-up, Christian man with a servant’s heart.

Mr. Pearce has run a positive campaign, appealing to all the people and sharing a vision of uniting our city and making Florence better.

I have not even once heard him resort to negative attacks, yet the same cannot be said for Wukela and his supporters.

Rocky Pearce has experience, and he has proven that he can lead in tough times.

Wukela keeps saying we need change, we need someone of integrity, but his campaign so far has given us more of the same divisive politics we have seen for years.

I think he should practice what he preaches and offer something fresh like Mr. Pearce has done: a clean campaign based on issues and real solutions. I am glad Rocky Pearce is on the ballot.

He has the experience we need in this difficult time. It is time to put the negative politics aside and do something right for Florence.

Let’s rise above petty politics and support Florence by voting Rocky Pearce for mayor.

Joey M. Sturgeon
Florence