Frank E. Willis
Encyclopedia
Frank E. Willis was the mayor
of Florence, South Carolina
from 1994 to 2008. His administration was widely praised for ushering in an era of economic expansion as the city of Florence rapidly grew into a regional business hub for the eastern Carolinas, especially in the areas of health care and financial services.
Prior to serving as mayor, Willis was a successful local businessman who chaired the Florence County Economic Development Authority. In 1980, he co-founded the South Carolina Transportation Policy and Research Council. As a conservative member of the Democratic Party
, he was an ardent supporter of both Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council
.
In 1994, Willis defeated former Mayor Rocky Pearce and won the Democratic Party's mayoral nomination. He then went on to defeat the Republican nominee, City Councilman John Chase, in the general election. Due to a slight change in election law, however, Mayor Willis's initial term was extended through 1998, allowing him to win re-election in 2000 and then again in 2004. Florence has a council-manager government
, so the mayor works part-time in conjunction with the city council
, the city manager
and the county council
.
Frank Willis was raised just north of Florence in Darlington, South Carolina and graduated from St. John's High School. He later married Marguerite Smith and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina
. For over 35 years, Willis served as Chairman and CEO of the Willis Construction Company, a business his father headquartered in Florence. Early in his administration, Willis used his own equipment to clear out vacant lots and wooded areas that had long been associated with gang activity.
The mayor was very successful in attracting new businesses to Florence County
, but his initiatives to curb crime, drug use and urban sprawl
were met with mixed results. In 2006, Mayor Willis unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nomination. He outperformed Columbia
attorney C. Dennis Aughtry, but ultimately lost the primary to Tommy Moore
, a longtime state senator from Aiken
. Moore, in turn, was later defeated in the general election by Republican Governor Mark Sanford
.
In June 2008, while seeking a fourth term in office, Willis unexpectedly lost the Democratic Party's mayoral nomination to local attorney Stephen Wukela by just one vote. Wukela, a 32-year-old graduate of both Clemson University
and the George Washington University Law School, was an outspoken supporter of Barack Obama
and adopted many of his campaign themes. In 2004, the progressive Wukela unsuccessfully challenged Florence's senior Republican state senator, Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
No Republicans filed to run for the mayor's office in the November 2008 general election, although former Mayor Rocky Pearce announced that he would run as an independent. Mayor Pearce, who served two consecutive terms as a Democrat from 1982-1990, owns an insurance company that was started by his father. Like Mayor Willis, Pearce, 56, was a conservative who attended USC and once chaired the Florence County Economic Development Authority. At the age of 31, Pearce defeated incumbent Mayor Cooper Tedder (D). He ultimately lost his bid for a third consecutive term to attorney Haigh Porter (D).
An automatic municipal recount upheld Wukela's narrow victory over Frank Willis. Citing "voter confusion", Willis then appealed that decision to the South Carolina Democratic Party
, who ruled in favor of Wukela, and denied the mayor's request for another primary election. Afterwards, the mayor took the matter before a local circuit court, but the judge dismissed the case, and stated that the results from the Democratic primary were legitimate. The mayor then appealed the circuit court's decision to the South Carolina Supreme Court
, but the case was similarly dismissed. In both cases, Wukela was represented by his father, who is the proprietor of the Wukela Law Firm and a prominent personal injury lawyer.
After the Supreme Court decision, Mayor Willis finally conceded the race, telling the Florence Morning News: "It's over." He declined to officially endorse either Wukela or Pearce as his successor
, although the Florence City Council and the Florence Morning News endorsed Mayor Pearce. Wukela, however, ultimately defeated Pearce in the general election by a ten point margin.
Willis is the third longest-serving mayor in Florence history after David H. McLeod (16 years) and Herbert Gilbert (20 years).
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Florence, South Carolina
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
from 1994 to 2008. His administration was widely praised for ushering in an era of economic expansion as the city of Florence rapidly grew into a regional business hub for the eastern Carolinas, especially in the areas of health care and financial services.
Prior to serving as mayor, Willis was a successful local businessman who chaired the Florence County Economic Development Authority. In 1980, he co-founded the South Carolina Transportation Policy and Research Council. As a conservative member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was an ardent supporter of both Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council
Democratic Leadership Council
The Democratic Leadership Council was a non-profit 501 corporation that, upon its formation, argued the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it took in the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
.
In 1994, Willis defeated former Mayor Rocky Pearce and won the Democratic Party's mayoral nomination. He then went on to defeat the Republican nominee, City Councilman John Chase, in the general election. Due to a slight change in election law, however, Mayor Willis's initial term was extended through 1998, allowing him to win re-election in 2000 and then again in 2004. Florence has a council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
, so the mayor works part-time in conjunction with the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, the city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
and the county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
.
Frank Willis was raised just north of Florence in Darlington, South Carolina and graduated from St. John's High School. He later married Marguerite Smith and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. For over 35 years, Willis served as Chairman and CEO of the Willis Construction Company, a business his father headquartered in Florence. Early in his administration, Willis used his own equipment to clear out vacant lots and wooded areas that had long been associated with gang activity.
The mayor was very successful in attracting new businesses to Florence County
Florence County, South Carolina
Florence is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was recorded to be 125,761; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 131,097. Its county seat is Florence. The county's population is about 60% urban and it comprises part of...
, but his initiatives to curb crime, drug use and urban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
were met with mixed results. In 2006, Mayor Willis unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nomination. He outperformed Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
attorney C. Dennis Aughtry, but ultimately lost the primary to Tommy Moore
Tommy Moore (politician)
Tommy L. Moore is a South Carolina businessman and former state politician who is now an executive of a payday lending association in Washington, D.C...
, a longtime state senator from Aiken
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
. Moore, in turn, was later defeated in the general election by Republican Governor Mark Sanford
Mark Sanford
Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. is an American politician from South Carolina, who was the 115th Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011....
.
In June 2008, while seeking a fourth term in office, Willis unexpectedly lost the Democratic Party's mayoral nomination to local attorney Stephen Wukela by just one vote. Wukela, a 32-year-old graduate of both Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
and the George Washington University Law School, was an outspoken supporter of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and adopted many of his campaign themes. In 2004, the progressive Wukela unsuccessfully challenged Florence's senior Republican state senator, Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.
Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 31st District since 1981. The 31st District is anchored in Florence, South Carolina. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Leatherman also sits on the state's powerful Budget and Control...
No Republicans filed to run for the mayor's office in the November 2008 general election, although former Mayor Rocky Pearce announced that he would run as an independent. Mayor Pearce, who served two consecutive terms as a Democrat from 1982-1990, owns an insurance company that was started by his father. Like Mayor Willis, Pearce, 56, was a conservative who attended USC and once chaired the Florence County Economic Development Authority. At the age of 31, Pearce defeated incumbent Mayor Cooper Tedder (D). He ultimately lost his bid for a third consecutive term to attorney Haigh Porter (D).
An automatic municipal recount upheld Wukela's narrow victory over Frank Willis. Citing "voter confusion", Willis then appealed that decision to the South Carolina Democratic Party
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
, who ruled in favor of Wukela, and denied the mayor's request for another primary election. Afterwards, the mayor took the matter before a local circuit court, but the judge dismissed the case, and stated that the results from the Democratic primary were legitimate. The mayor then appealed the circuit court's decision to the South Carolina Supreme Court
South Carolina Supreme Court
The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices.-Selection of Justices:...
, but the case was similarly dismissed. In both cases, Wukela was represented by his father, who is the proprietor of the Wukela Law Firm and a prominent personal injury lawyer.
After the Supreme Court decision, Mayor Willis finally conceded the race, telling the Florence Morning News: "It's over." He declined to officially endorse either Wukela or Pearce as his successor
Successor
A successor can refer to* Someone who, or something which succeeds or comes after * Successor , an American Thoroughbred racehorseIn history:* The Diadochi, or Successors to Alexander the GreatIn mathematics:...
, although the Florence City Council and the Florence Morning News endorsed Mayor Pearce. Wukela, however, ultimately defeated Pearce in the general election by a ten point margin.
Willis is the third longest-serving mayor in Florence history after David H. McLeod (16 years) and Herbert Gilbert (20 years).
External links
- http://www.cityofflorence.com/council/index.html
- http://www.willisforflorence.com/
- http://www.weblync.com/willis/default.htm