Wukela wins Florence mayoral race

Democratic mayoral candidate Stephen J. Wukela has defeated independent petition candidate and former Mayor Rocky Pearce — and this time his margin of victory was much more than one vote.

Pearce had conceded as of press time Tuesday, when Wukela had 6,471 votes to Pearce’s 5,654.

“It was a hard-fought race, and I’ve spoken with Mr. Pearce, and he was very kind ... And we both agree that there’s a lot of work to be done in the city of Florence,” Wukela said.

Wukela, 33, is a Florence attorney. He is two years older than the newly elected Pearce in 1983. He defeated Mayor Frank Willis by one vote in the city’s Democratic primary, which Willis contested all the way to the S.C. Supreme Court.

Pearce said he spoke to Wukela to concede and congratulate the mayor-elect.

“He’s a young man, he’s got a challenge ahead of him, and I’ll do anything I can to help him if he asks,” Pearce said.

Pearce, who runs an insurance business in Florence, is now 56. He served as mayor from 1983 to 1991 as a Democrat. He entered the race as an independent petition candidate while the Democratic primary was being challenged.

Willis defeated Pearce in the Florence’s 1995 Democratic mayoral primary before defeating Republican John Chase to win his first term in office.

Wukela’s campaign focused on the redevelopment of downtown Florence’s center. He has said lack of growth north of Palmetto Street has divided Florence.

Jobs have been a key issue during the campaign for Pearce, who says he wants “more taxpayers, not taxes” in Florence.

He has called downtown the “cultural corridor” and has compared downtown redevelopment to a mall, with “anchor tenants” leading to the “infill” of small businesses.

He also has said he wants to involve churches in uniting Florence through prayer.

Wukela also has said he wants a devoted police gang unit as well as 18 additional police officers.

Pearce is an advocate of community policing, which he said makes residents less fearful and more willing to help when dealing with authorities.

He also has suggested placing monitored cameras, some of them mobile, in neighborhoods struggling with crime.

Wukela also has called for an independent audit of city funding given to any councilmen or any organizations with which council members are associated.

Both candidates say the city should place a lien on abandoned property and sell it if an absentee owner won’t demolish or rehabilitate the structures described as crime and health hazards.