SC Majority Leader To Campaign Against GOP Incumbent
MERRILL TO ADVISE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CHALLENGER
FITSNews – February 19, 2008 – S.C. Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill will run a campaign to unseat a member of his own Republican caucus, sources tell FITSNews, the latest twist in an increasingly contentious and confusing GOP primary season that has already seen several veteran Republican lawmakers decide against running for reelection.
Merrill, who owns a Charleston-based political consulting firm, will manage the House District 94 campaign of realtor Jenny Horne, who was defeated for this same Lowcountry seat by Rep. Heyward Hutson just three months ago in a bitter GOP special election.
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has been accused by lawmakers of targeting incumbents within his own party on multiple occasions, so it’ll be interesting to see how the news of Merrill’s involvement in this race sits within his GOP Caucus.
Comments
By Wondering on February 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
The SCGOP leadership is a classless bunch…
By Marty Bishop on February 19th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Isn’t Merrill’s brother working for SCRG still? Looks like the whole family is out for blood.
By Some one who cares.... on February 20th, 2008 at 6:22 am
You always say that the GOP leadership needs to rid itself of RINO’s. Well here’s the first step in that direction. I know nothing of Jenny Horne, but she has to be to the “right” of Hutson.
BTW, shouldn’t you add that this is Merrill’s last go round as Majority Leader.
By Wait a second... on February 20th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Wait…Hutson is a Democrat, isn’t he? Isn’t he the guy who ran on the pro-tax, anti-business angle in that campaign? Or am I thinking of somebody else?
By Please get it right. on February 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Somebody should verified this. Its bogus spin by the dems.
By Love Dorchester on February 21st, 2008 at 7:23 am
Heyward Hutson is a true Republican. Jenny Horne is the Homebuilders hand picked pretty boy, (girl). She wins the legs competition and was Annette Young’s hand picked person to replace Converse Chellis. Remember Annette Young’s last hand picked person to come to Columbia, Diane Goodstien. With her and her husbands,(Goodstien’s) business in apparent bankruptcy, that would have been a train wreck with her on the Supreme Court. So to answer the question, Jimmy Merrill wants Jenny Horne in Columbia for one reason. You figure it out! Someone or several in the State House are RINO’s, and it’s not Heward Hutson.
By Joseph H. Kress on February 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
All I know about Heyward Hutson is that he fights hard for the interest and betterment of Dorchester County. What he wants is antithema to the interests of those who insist on uncontrolled growth and increased taxation for those who don’t benefit from growth, but daily watch the quality of their lives destroyed because of the unconscionable minipulation of the public’s trust – as evidenced in the laws that allow unlimited spending, illegal aliens working for preditor employers supported by so-called conservative members of the House and Senate.
Heward, contrary to what one of the respondents falsely stated which is that he is left of of Jenny Horne politically, believe what is good for the coffers of the developers is good for the average taxpayer. Being a consercative does not mean doing the bidding of less than honorable politicians who look at the almighty buck as their god. Most of the Majority Leader Merrill’s political goals give Repulicans a bad name as do also the RINOs at the federal level.
Heyward is in for a fight for releection because the establishment can’t stand honest government.
By Ron on February 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I’d like to add “mega ditto” to Mr. kress’ statement above. I live and work in this house district, worked for Heyward in the recent special election and will do so again for the June primary. Heyward Hutson is not a “yes man” that would go along with the majority whip, the majority leader or the speaker if he held an opposite view on an issue. In other words, Mr. Hutson “cannot be bought”, cannot be manipulated by gop leadership and will not compromise his principles. In other words, with Heyward Hutson, it’s always principle over politics, and that’s what the gop leadership detests.
By Love Dorchester on February 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
It sure would be nice to see someone step-up and run a campaign against Jimmy Merrill. Sounds to me like it’s time for him to go!
By Ron on February 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
There should be plenty of good potential candidates on Daniel Island which is the district that Jimmy represents. Can anyone think of a person with a business that would “run itself” in their absense or perhaps a conservative retiree. We need to throw the rascals out!!!
By Bill Hanna on February 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
It’s time that conservatives in Dorchester County wake up and smell the coffee! Ms. Young and Ms. Horne are both connected to the real estate business, and they are certainly not interested in serving the interest of the voters. On the other hand, Mr. Hutson has a very credible conservative record that he took to Columbia. Having known Heyward for over 20 years, I must agree that his vote is not for sale. Honesty and integrity are paramount with him, and that’s why the home builders/realtors want him out of office. Keep Heyward in Columbia, and let’s rise up and vote some “fresh” politicians in office, from the top down.