Brown might stay in politics

The Newsless Courier ^ | 02/23/10 | ANDY PARAS

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Brown might stay in politics

Congressman urged to run for supervisor's job

By Andy Paras The Post and Courier Tuesday, February 23, 2010 U.S. Rep. Henry Brown may not be done with public office after all.

The Hanahan resident, who said in January that he would not seek re-election to Congress and instead retire to his farm, now is looking at all the political options in his home county.

That includes a possible bid for Berkeley County supervisor.

"He has a political future," said Brown's political consultant, Rod Shealy, while stopping short of confirming the buzz around the supervisor race. "A lot of people are talking to him about different things. He's considering everything. It's not out of the question but it's not frontline."

Brown, who did not return calls seeking comment, and a couple dozen others attended a luncheon Saturday where Brown was encouraged to run. The Berkeley County supervisor is paid $131,448 per year.

Gene Woods, a flea market owner who is among the announced candidates for supervisor, said he was at the luncheon and heard Brown tell the crowd he was weighing the pros and cons of seeking the supervisor job.

Woods said he was surprised. "I believe what people say, and he said he was going to retire and go to the farm. Running for county supervisor is not retiring."

Another supervisor candidate, School Board member Terry Hardesty, also was surprised.

"To me, it's going to be a 60-, 70-hour-a-week job, seven days a week," Hardesty said. "I think that is what it's going to take to be a good supervisor. I don't know if Henry has thought about all of that."

Hanahan Mayor Minnie Blackwell, who also is seeking the supervisor post, did not return calls for comment Monday.

Supervisor Dan Davis hasn't made a formal announcement but said Monday that he intends to run for re-election. He said he and Brown are friends but have not talked about the possibility of Brown running for supervisor.

"I've heard the rumors," Davis said. "I don't know where this is coming from. I can't tell you."

All of the supervisor candidates so far are Republicans. The party primaries are June 8, and the general election is Nov. 2.

Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the Nation.

Brown easily would have the most campaign money at his disposal in the supervisor race.

Shealy said Brown has about $750,000 in campaign contributions, some of which could be transferred to a state race with the permission of the donors.

Brown would be a welcome addition to the supervisor race, if he chooses to run, County Republican Party Chairman Tim Callanan said.

"My job as county chairman is to recruit the best-quality candidates I can, and I don't think there is a candidate with the resume that Henry Brown has in all of Berkeley County," said Callanan, who also serves on County Council. "Having someone of that caliber in a race certainly benefits Berkeley County."

Copyright © 1995 - 2010 Evening Post Publishing Co..

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