Leadership change: Florence swaps mayors amid focus on city growth

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Teresa Myers-Ervin made history in 2020 when she became the first woman and first Black person elected as Florence mayor.

On Tuesday, she capped a 14-year political career, using a news conference on her final day in office touting her accomplishments while delivering a frank message to her former constituents.

A short time later, her former city council colleague Lethonia "Peaches" Barnes accepted the city's top political post during a swearing-in ceremony at Francis Marion University.

Barnes sailed past Myers-Ervin in a Democratic June primary, taking nearly 61% of the vote. She ran unopposed Nov. 5.

"I stand here today because you believed in me. And every day that my feet hit the floor, my focus will be on doing what's best for the city of Florence," Barnes said.

Chairwoman of the council's community development committee, Barnes called for unity and a grassroots approach to government — saying parents and neighbors all have a role to play to unlock the city's potential.

"If we all do our part, if we all help to carry the load, Florence will become the premier city that it can be," she said.

Barnes had several state lawmakers in attendance including newly elected Sen. Mike Reichenbach and state Rep. Phillip Lowe.

But Ervin-Myers wasn't among those in the audience. She said Tuesday the political rivals hadn't spoken since the primary and she wasn't invited to Barnes' swearing in.

She also said she has no plans to run for office again.

"I have served this city for 14 years, and I believe I've served it well without any kind of confusion, and I will leave that legacy," she said. "We have made too much progress to go backwards."

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at . See more of his work here .