Frank Willis (South Carolina)

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Frank Willis, born in 1942 in South Carolina, is currently the Mayor of Florence, South Carolina, and Democratic candidate for Governor of South Carolina 2006.

First elected in 1995, he has served the city of Florence and has worked diligently to bring new businesses into the pee-dee region of South Carolina. Mayor Willis was involved in the construction industry prior to his election, and established the Florence County Economic Development Authority. In 1980, Mayor Willis created the South Carolina Transportation Policy and Research Council. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, he lives in Florence with his wife, Marguerite Smith Willis.

In this year's primary campaign, Mayor Willis faces stiff opposition from State Senator Tommy Moore, who represents Aiken County at the State House. Senator Moore has led Mayor Willis in numerous polls, although Mayor Willis has made considerable gains in the weeks leading up to the Primary. Both men face token opposition from attorney Dennis Aughtry. Aughtry has been running on a platform of legalizing casinos in the state, with few realistic ideas, meaning that Aughtry has little realistic chance of winning the primary race. The statewide primaries for both Republican and Democratic parties will be held on Tuesday, June 13th.

In addition to Democratic opposition, Mayor Willis (if chosen as the Democratic nominee in the primary) faces stiff resistance from incumbent Republican Governor Mark Sanford, who is running for his second term. Sanford himself faces a challenge by Oscar Lovelace, a physician from Prosperity, South Carolina; The Democratic party in South Carolina is hoping that Lovelace, should he fail to defeat Governor Sanford, will at the very least draw some momentum away from the Governor's campaign.

Mayor Willis has received stirling endorsements from Mayor Bob Coble, of Columbia, as well as the State Newspaper.

[edit] External links

• www.WillisForGovernor.com
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