Tuesday, Jul. 15, 2008

Judge upholds mayor’s loss by 1 vote

FLORENCE

A judge has upheld the mayoral election in Florence that incumbent Frank Willis lost by one vote.

Circuit Judge Michael Nettles ruled Monday that Willis did not file his protest of Stephen Wukela’s win in time. The judge said that even if Willis had, there was not enough evidence to overturn last month’s vote.

Willis says nine voters who lived in the city weren’t allowed to vote, while five voters outside city limits did cast ballots.

From staff reports