Pee Dee Mayoral Aspirant Willie C. Williams Drops Out of Race Due to Criminal Record
MULLINS, SC – Willie C. Williams, a mayoral hopeful from Mullins in Pee Dee, South Carolina, has officially withdrawn his candidacy due to his past criminal record. This development comes after Williams misread the application paperwork indicating that he is ineligible to run for political office until 2028 due to a prior conviction for attempted murder.
In South Carolina, individuals cannot pursue a political career for a 15-year period after completing their sentence, probation, and parole. Williams, who was released in 2013 after serving a 17-year prison term, expressed disappointment over the situation. However, he remains eager to address crime and youth engagement issues in Mullins.
Williams assured the public that he’s planning to dive back into the political arena in 2028, when he regains his eligibility. He stated, “We’re gonna start campaigning today. It’s not going to stop us. We’re moving forward, and we’re gonna come back stronger and faster in 2028. We’re still gonna do everything. We’re gonna start to pick up more voters and get people encouraged to vote.”
Finding a Conviction, An Election Commission’s Challenge
Despite an anonymous tip-off that led to Williams’s bid being dropped, the Marion County Elections Office has yet to find concrete proof of his conviction. The Elections Commission maintained that they couldn’t locate any corroborating evidence, leading to the circumstance where Williams’s only choice was to withdraw his name voluntarily, an action he officially carried out last Thursday.
The South Carolina Election Commission spokesperson, John Michael Catalano, explained that confirming a candidate’s eligibility typically falls under the county’s jurisdiction. Most of the time, Catalano stated, the process operates on a candidate’s honor. “They take the candidates’ word on that oath that they swear and sign that they are qualified to hold the office. They take the candidate at their word for that unless they have reason to believe that the candidate is not being honest,” Catalano said.
Background Checks Not Required for Candidates
Catalano revealed the local election offices do have a procedure to retrieve previous convictions. Nonetheless, it may be challenging to verify older sentences. Notably, background checks are not mandatory for electoral candidates in South Carolina.
This issue has not been found to be widespread throughout the state, said Catalano, but he expressed the commission is always open to evaluating the process and making necessary improvements when needed.
