Florence’s newest city leaders sworn in

“Historic” was the adjective of the evening, and hope for a better Florence was the key message as the city’s new mayor and council members took the oath of office.

Before a standing-room-only crowd on Monday, Stephen J. Wukela was installed as mayor and Steve Powers and Octavia-Williams Blake became the city’s newest council members.

“A historic struggle has brought us to this critical time and place, and it is a time and place of troubles and division, but also of possibilities and hope,” Wukela told the crowd.

Wukela became the Democratic mayoral nominee after defeating outgoing Mayor Frank Willis by one vote in the primary. He then faced independent petition candidate and former Mayor Rocky Pearce in the general election.

The new mayor said the city’s divisions and other problems, however, “are man made.”

“And what man has made, man can change,” he said.

S.C. Court of Appeals Judge Ralph King Anderson administered the oath of office to Wukela, who was accompanied by his wife, Laura, and their three sons.

“You want me to hold one of the babies?” Anderson joked before administering the oath.

Anderson described the occasion as a “historic, momentous time” in Florence’s history as Wukela joins the ranks of the city’s previous mayors.

“I encapsulate his career to this point as a stalwart warrior for progress in the city of Florence,” Anderson said.

Anderson also gave a special recognition to Florence County Council Chairman K.G. Rusty Smith during the ceremony, which took place in the 11th floor courtroom in the Florence City-County Complex.

“Chairman, welcome — and I look forward to the day when we build a judicial center,” he said to laughter from the crowd, including Smith.

Williams-Blake was sworn into office by her campaign manager, Ken Jackson. She was joined by her husband, Charlie Blake, and the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Hannah.

She said the evening was historic also because she is the first African-American woman to take the oath of office as a Florence city councilwoman.

Williams-Blake thanked her family and the many members of her church family who attended the ceremony.

“I know they’ve done a lot of praying for me because this has been a long and difficult campaign,” she said.

Powers said he looks forward to working “100 percent” with Wukela and told Williams-Blake that she will be a great addition to council.

Powers was joined by his wife, Susan, and his son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Jennifer, as his oath of office was administered by Florence attorney George Jebaily.

He recalled to the crowd a promise he’d made to a Florence resident: “I will do what’s right, not what’s popular.”

Powers and Williams-Blake, both Democrats, defeated Glynn Willis and outgoing councilman Bobby Holland, both Republicans, in the general election.

Frank Willis, Holland and outgoing councilman Rick Woodard had served 13 years on city council.

The three men attended their final special called meeting with council at 1 p.m. Monday, five hours before the installation ceremony. Council held a 50-minute executive session to consider a personnel matter related to city court, but took no action.