Former mayor Pearce plans to enter Florence mayoral race

Former Florence Mayor Rocky Pearce is seeking signatures to become a petition candidate in Florence’s November mayoral election.

“I want to be a mayor for all the people, and I think I have the experience so that I can hit the ground running,” he said Thursday.

Pearce served as mayor from 1983 to 1991 as a Democrat.

To run as an independent candidate, he needs the signatures of about 1,100, or 5 percent, of the city’s registered voters, acting Florence County Voter Registration and Elections Director Steve Love said.

Pearce said he expects by next week to have a good idea of his campaign’s progress in collecting those signatures.

The deadline for submitting a petition is noon July 15, according to an S.C. State Election Commission calendar. Petition candidates must be certified by noon Aug. 15.

Pearce said several people called him last week to encourage him to run and that he decided to start gathering signatures after discussions with his family.

He said he was inspired to run to unite Florence and give the city’s residents “a choice” in November.

“When we work together, it’s exciting what we can accomplish,” he said.

Pearce said he’ll run regardless of how a judge rules on an appeal of the city’s Democratic mayoral primary, the results of which show incumbent Mayor Frank Willis trailing Stephen J. Wukela by one vote.

“We’re in,” he said.

Willis’ attorneys filed an appeal June 26 calling for the 12th Circuit Court to reverse last month’s 4-2 decision of the state Democratic party’s Board of State Canvassers of Municipal Primaries and order a new primary.

No Republicans filed to run for the office.

Circuit Judge Michael Nettles heard arguments regarding the appeal Wednesday and said he will issue a ruling July 14.

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

Willis said his main concern at the moment isn’t about having another candidate in the race, but winning his appeal so that another mayoral primary will be ordered.

“We’re focused on the task at hand, and that’s resolving the issue in the court with the votes,” he said.

Wukela said he has a great deal of respect for Pearce, who he said was “certainly a dedicated servant” as mayor.

“The campaign that I have run is about bringing about change and bringing about a new perspective on the city of Florence. ... What I propose is looking forward rather than looking to the past,” he said.

Wukela added, “I look forward to a spirited race.”