2002 Johnsonville election mirrors Florence mayoral debate

By Mackenzie Taylor
WBTW News13
Published: July 21, 2008

While many have watched the Florence mayoral saga unfold these past couple of weeks between Frank Willis and Stephen Wukela, this is not the first time Florence County has seen something like this.

A similar situation occurred in the Johnsonville mayor’s race back in 2002.

Counts showed incumbent Tom Redmond three votes ahead of challenger Steve Dukes.

Dukes, though, claimed some of the votes should not have been counted because some county voters were allowed to vote in the city election.

The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court where judges ordered a new election.

When it was all said and done, challenger Steve Dukes became the next mayor.

Now six years later, former Mayor Redmond says watching the events in Florence feels like déjà vu because he can relate to the candidates feelings of uncertainty.

“Even though you sitting there and doing the city business, carrying on city business like you’d be there 100 years, you still got it in the back of your mind.  Am I going to prevail or what’s going to happen?” said Redmond.

Redmond describes the appeal process as burdensome, but says he plans to continue monitoring the Florence mayoral race until an official winner is determined.