Hembree seeking another term in S.C. senate

S.C. Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Little River, announcing his candidacy for re-election, gave supporters a pep talk on his optimism about South Carolina election campaigns.

“I think we’re on the crest of more civil political discourse and good manners,” Hembree told about 85 supporters on Monday at Eggs Up Grill in Barefoot Commons Shopping Center in North Myrtle Beach.

Hembree is in his first term as the senator for District 28 (Horry and Dillion counties), an office long held by the late Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach. Elliott did not seek another term in 2012 and Hembree was elected with 67 percent of the vote.

Filing opens at noon March 16 for the June Democratic and Republican primary elections. Filing closes at noon March 30. As of Tuesday, no candidates other than Hembree had announced for State Senate District 28.

In the S.C. Senate, Hembree is assistant majority whip and on the Judiciary, Education, Transportation and Agriculture committees. He chairs the subcommittees on Municipal Accountability and Mo-ped Regulation.

Hembree says “people are weary of the tone of political discourse” particularly in the national presidential campaign, and frustrated in the “failure [of government] to accomplish anything.”

“The culture of South Carolina is to be kind to one another. People are not ugly by nature. I’ve got hope -- I really do.”

Prior to election to the S.C. General Assembly, Hembree for 14 years was the solicitor for Horry and Georgetown counties.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Hembree seeking another term in S.C. senate."