Florence County incumbent treasurer Dean Fowler will remain in office after Tuesday’s election.

Incumbent Republicans Kris Crawford and Phillip Lowe were leading their Democratic rivals in the S.C. House Districts 63 and 60 races, respectively, Tuesday at press time.

At Ward No. 12, located at the Florence Bible Chapel, more than 400 people had voted before 11 a.m. Tuesday. In fact, the poll clerk said there were several people already in line when she arrived at the precinct around 6 a.m. 

The Florence mayoral candidates, Stephen Wukela and Rocky Pearce, spent the day Monday shaking a lot of hands. Both Pearce and Wukela spent the last minutes before the big day, trying to reach every voter they could.

Former Florence County Voter Registration and Elections Director Mike Young has pleaded guilty to charges of converting more than $40,000 in disability benefits from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board to his own use.

Residents of the city without a lake were fairly evenly divided on their presidential choices, but solidly against a proposal to sell alcohol in restaurants on Sundays.

The Francis Marion University Department of Political Science and Geography will present “Beyond November 4: Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Next President” at 4 p.m. Thursday in Lowrimore Auditorium on the FMU campus.

A question and answer session with Florence City Council at-large candidates will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Mount Sinai Holiness Church’s fellowship hall, 102 W. Liberty St., Florence.

A statewide group said some local state lawmakers seeking re-election have received contributions from a New York activist pushing for private school vouchers, but the candidates deny those claims.

Sixth Congressional District challenger Nancy Harrelson had said she wouldn’t debate incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn on statewide TV but changed her mind Monday, just in time for them to have a lively hour-long exchange.

What’s expected to be a record voter turnout is likely to be slowed even more in South Carolina by three constitutional amendment questions on the ballot.

Three Council seats are open on the Johnsonville City Council, and each incumbent is seeking reelection. Additionally, four other citizens have filed as candidates. These include incumbents Diane Marsh, Carl Skinner, and Dr. Dale A. Strickland. Other candidates include Edie Cain, Lisa Cox, Jack Smith and Tom Stasney.

Residents got to ask the tough questions during the most recent Florence mayoral debate, where crime and economic development came to the forefront.

Stephen Wukela and Rocky Pearce debate about abandoned buildings and neighborhood safety.

Stephen Wukela and Rocky Pearce debate about downtown revitalization, securing jobs, and attracting new jobs to the area.