COLUMBIA - Local legislators say it's still too close to call whether Circuit Judge Paula Thomas of Pawleys Island will be elected to the state Appeals Court on Tuesday.

Legislators, who elect judges, set 12:15 p.m. Tuesday for the election of two new Appeals Court judges.

Thomas is running against Family Court Judge Bruce Williams of Columbia for one seat. Marion County Family Court Judge Mary Buchan withdrew Thursday from the race for the other seat in contention.

Buchan has tried several times for a seat on the court. Each time, the Judicial Merit Selection Commission has found her well-qualified; but each time, she also has faced political forces she could not overcome.

This time, the race she was in pits Circuit Judge Casey Manning, who is black, against Circuit Judge Paul Short, who is married to state Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester.

With legislators under great pressure to increase the number of blacks on state benches, most agreed that contest was between Manning and Short, and that Buchan had little chance simply because of who else was in the race.

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, is running Thomas' campaign in the House along with Rep. Harry Cato, R-Travelers Rest.

"It's still very close," Edge said Friday. Negotiations and campaigning were expected to continue through the weekend.

"There's still a lot of movement going on," Edge said.

Hooters

A bill that Edge sponsored that will allow Hooters Air - or any other airline, for that matter - to buy its liquor in South Carolina passed the House on Thursday and is headed to the Senate.

Danny Brazell, spokesman for the Department of Revenue, said current law allows only licensed bars and restaurants to buy liquor for retail service.

The bill allows airlines to buy a license similar to those granted to bars and restaurants.

Even though Atlanta-based Hooters Air could probably buy liquor in its other locations, Edge said, the company wanted to be able to buy it in Myrtle Beach for convenience.

Besides, Hooters owner Bob Brooks is a Longs native and likes to help the local economy, Edge said.

"They want to spend their money in South Carolina, so who can argue with that?" Edge said.

Fireworks

A bill allowing locations outside of cities some control of fireworks passed Thursday and is awaiting Gov. Mark Sanford's signature.

"I'm excited about it," said Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, who sponsored the bill.

The freshman Clemmons started with the bill early last year, taking the same tack that has failed for some 20 years: giving counties the same right that cities have to control fireworks.

But the fireworks industry always fought off that proposal. This time, the industry has helped work out a compromise because of fears of what could happen at densely populated places such as Shore Drive.

Fires at some Shore Drive condominiums set off by fireworks several years ago spurred residents to keep pressing local legislators for relief.

The bill allows property owners, including condo associations, to post their premises as fireworks-free and register them as such with local police. That gives police cause to enforce the law if it is broken.

The bill also allows properties to extend the fireworks-free zone into adjacent public areas, such as beaches or roads, if they receive permission from the local government to do so.

"I think it's a reasonable change and it's one that ensures due process to the public," Clemmons said.

School tax referendum

A bill whizzed through the House last week that allows Horry County Schools to call a referendum on a 1-cent sales tax that would be used to offset property taxes for school construction.

Legislators said the school district asked for the bill. Rep. Liston Barfield, R-Aynor, sponsored the bill. It will be on the Senate agenda this week.

Next week

The minibottle referendum bill could be debated Tuesday afternoon. Supporters are nervous that it will not get the required two-thirds vote, even though the same measure passed 90-10 last year.

The House is voting on it again because it is the Senate version of the bill, slightly different from the House version. Edge said some House members are grumbling that the Senate should have accepted their version and that they are not eager to vote for the Senate's bill because the Senate has failed to act on many House bills.

On Wednesday, legislators will have budget vetoes from Gov. Mark Sanford to deal with, if he has any to present.