Group prepares to fight Sunday alcohol sales referendum

FLORENCE — Florence resident Chad Parker recalls the Friday night in April 1995 when he and his wife, Pam, were struck head-on by a drunken driver.

Parker told his story Tuesday to a crowd of Florence residents who oppose a referendum that could allow Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants within Florence city limits.

“Please vote no,” he told the audience of nearly 30 people. “Give us at least one safe day. Everyone’s got a right to do what they want to do, but not at a cost to everyone else.”

Members of the group Strengthening Florence Families, who held their organizational meeting Tuesday, hope that Parker’s story will hit home and encourage voters to turn down the referendum.

“It’s too late to change what city council did, but it’s not too late to change what the voters of Florence will do,” said Florence attorney Gary Finklea, who was elected chairman at the meeting.

Southside Baptist Church pastor Jim Crooks was elected vice chairman.

The group recently launched the Web site http://votenoflorence.com in opposition of the referendum.

It plans to distribute small pamphlets, yard signs and “commitment to vote no” sign-up sheets. It also wants to develop a video presentation and run advertising in print, television and online media.

Hospitality Association of South Carolina President Tom Sponseller told Florence City Council in July that allowing restaurants to sell alcohol on Sundays would increase sales by $650,000 a month.

Finklea said the hospitality association is a Columbia-based group with little connection to Florence, which he estimates would gain only $280,000 a year in taxes from Sunday alcohol sales.

Finklea also said the group wants to know what the cost to the city will be. About $13 million — half of the city’s general fund budget — goes toward police and fire protection.

City council candidate Glynn Willis, who opposes Sunday alcohol sales, attended the meeting. Mayoral candidates Rocky Pearce and Stephen J. Wukela were unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts, but have said they oppose Sunday alcohol sales, as well.

County councilman Morris Anderson spoke at the meeting.

“I’m not going to put my religious convictions on anyone else,” Anderson said. “My concern, even though I don’t live in the city, is that driving under the influence is a terrible thing to do.”

Bill Monroe, pastor of Florence Baptist Temple, said he is not presenting the issue as a spiritual matter of “abstinence versus moderation” in alcohol consumption.

Instead, the group is opposed to the 16 additional hours of alcohol sales in restaurants and bars — extending from midnight to 2 a.m. Sunday, with establishments reopening at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 30 at the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library, 509 S. Dargan St., Florence.