COLUMBIA — Amid the crowds of people gathered on the South side of the Statehouse on Wednesday were several Pee Dee residents who braved the cold to see Mark Sanford, the state’s 115th governor, sworn in for a second time.

Tommy Phillips and his wife, Shelby, checked the weather before they left their home in Florence for the trip to Columbia.

“We saw the wind swirling, and the hairs flowing, and the people bundling up, so we knew across the back of this capital building it was going to be cold,” Tommy Phillips said. “So we dressed appropriately, had hot coffee on the way over, and we’re going to have some hot coffee on the way leaving.”

Tommy Phillips serves  as chairman of Florence County’s Republican Party, but this year’s governor’s inauguration was the first one he’s attended.

He said he wanted to come support the governor he helped re-elect.

“Participating in a political party, you have the opportunity to meet these people and you find out that they’re just like you and me,” Tommy Phillips  said.

Shelby Phillips, who works beside her husband in his political activities, said she enjoyed the inauguration.

“Oh, it was awesome. I was so proud, and it’s so good to recognize and know so many of them,” she said.

During his inaugural address, Sanford said more changes would come to South Carolina during his next four years in office.

Tommy Phillips said he took those words to heart and feels the governor’s second term will bring about more positive reforms, as long as the House of Representatives and Senate work with Sanford.

“This gentleman we have as a governor is a heck of a nice guy, and to stand around and talk to him, he tells you things that you can look forward to,” Tommy Phillips said.

By the end of the morning, the Phillipses said they’d be willing to come back to an inauguration, even if a Democrat was the one taking the oath of office.