By fitsnews – March 1, 2012
Jim Harrison – chairman of the S.C. House Judiciary committee – will not run for reelection in 2012, news which broke on our founding editor’s always entertaining and informative Twitter page.
A 23-year veteran of the S.C. House of Representatives, Harrison’s voting record on fiscal issues has been a mixed bag – although that’s not really surprising considering such a huge chunk of his moderate Midlands, S.C. district is comprised of state employees. Harrison did support a universal parental choice bill, though, and has consistently demonstrated a degree of integrity that we find sorely lacking at the S.C. State House.
Have we always agreed with him? No … but we have always respected him.
“This was a very difficult decision,” Harrison said in a statement released by the S.C. House GOP Caucus.
“Serving the people of Columbia in the House has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” the statement added, before saying that “the time has come for someone else to serve, with new ideas and a new perspective.”
A graduate of The Citadel and retired Army officer, Harrison participated in military operations in Saudi Arabia, Haiti and Bosnia. He is the second-longest serving Republican in the House.
In 2009, Harrison gained a bit of national notoriety when he presided over former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s impeachment hearings. Four years earlier, Harrison ran against then-Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell for Speaker of the House but pulled out of the race after Harrell received the support of the overwhelming majority of the Democratic Caucus.
(That’s how the “GOP” elects its leaders in the General Assembly …)
Harrison’s decision not to run again sets up a rare competitive election for a seat in the S.C. House of Representatives – and we expect several Republican and Democratic candidates to file for the seat.
Inside the S.C. State House, Harrison’s decision sets off a three-way battle for his coveted chairmanship – with Reps. Alan Clemmons (RINO-Myrtle Beach), Greg Delleney (RINO-Rock Hill) and Bruce Bannister (RINO-Greenville) all reportedly jockeying for position.
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