COLUMBIA, S.C. - In just two years in the Statehouse, Sen. John Kuhn, R-Charleston has made a name for himself as an outspoken advocate for his constituents.

But some of his Lowcountry colleagues say he went too far at the end of the legislative session and may have cut his political career short.

Kuhn, 40, was a political unknown when he stormed into the South Carolina Senate two years ago to finish the unexpired term of longtime Democratic Sen. Ernie Passailaigue. Kuhn beat a well-known Charleston Republican and won a seat Democrats had held since the 1980s.

In his first year, however, he drew criticism from Senate Majority Leader Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, for holding the floor for an hour during a debate.

Earlier this year, he had to apologize for suggesting that Myrtle Beach drew the undesirable tourists Charleston didn't want.

Then on June 5, the last day of the 2003 Legislature, his filibuster killed a bill that would have given needed dollars to Charleston colleges and technical schools because he thought the money was unfairly divided. The filibuster also has been blamed for keeping other legislation from consideration in the Senate and created a rare rift in the largely GOP Charleston delegation.

There's talk in political circles that other Republicans want Kuhn's seat. State GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said he has heard that Kuhn may have primary opposition.

"Beating Kuhn is going to be a tough job," said state Sen. Arthur Ravenel, R-Mount Pleasant. "Of course, the man hasn't been made that couldn't be beat in an election."

A native of California, Kuhn grew up on a farm. He earned his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from The John Marshall Law School.

He has lived in South Carolina for more than a decade. After an unsuccessful foray into exporting Southern foods to Japan, Kuhn began practicing law.

He had never held public office or even been in the Statehouse before he came "out of the woodwork," Ravenel said, and won the Republican nomination for the seat Passailaigue had held since 1989.

"I don't think anybody gave him much of a chance, but he got out there and really worked," Ravenel said.

Kuhn said he took three months off from his law practice and ran a door-to-door campaign.

"He pulled some strong numbers out of a Democratic district," Dawson said. "Where there was a Democratic base, John was able to crack into it."

But the accolades turned to admonitions as Kuhn became an outspoken freshman in the body that reveres longevity.

He often stood to ask questions, many times with so much energy that he would fidget or sway as he inquired about legislation. "He's so hyperactive. It's probably going to take a while for him to calm down," Ravenel said.

In his first year, Kuhn spoke for an hour on changes to the concealed weapons law. Several senators tried to get him to sit down.

"I was just curious if all of us quit listening and left the chamber if this would shorten the senator's remarks somewhat?" Leatherman asked Kuhn at the time.

"It's a great concept, but it sort of hurts my feelings," Kuhn responded.

At a Myrtle Beach conference in April, Kuhn said the Grand Strand - with its miniature golf courses, T-shirt shops and revving Harleys - was the place for "tourists we don't want (in Charleston) ... There are tourists we want, and tourists we don't want. You've got them up here."

The issue blew over after Kuhn apologized, saying it was a joke that wasn't very funny.

On the last two days of the session, Kuhn tried to stop a bill that included an amendment allowing the state to borrow more money for colleges to make $250 million in improvements.

He argued that "during the height of the recession" is not the time to borrow money and jeopardize the state's bond rating.

The bill ultimately failed, upsetting Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, and other House members from the Lowcountry because it contained another amendment to create a culinary arts program at Charleston's Trident Technical College. The area stands to lose millions of dollars when culinary school Johnson & Wales relocates to Charlotte, N.C.

"It was a prima donna, selfish act, and I think it's ridiculous the Senate let him do it," state Rep. Wallace Scarborough, R-James Island, told The (Charleston) Post and Courier earlier this month. "He's been a loose cannon, and we can't get a handle on it."

Kuhn said he supported the culinary school amendment, and the entire bill could have passed if Senate leadership had compromised or pulled the bond amendment.

The filibuster also held up other legislation, including an economic development package that Upstate officials say is needed to help lure a biotechnology company. Another delayed bill would have prevented the Charleston County School District from charging rent for a charter school on James Island.

"Kuhn has forgotten where he's going to be elected from," Scarborough said. "I hope the people remember what he did with their school."

Kuhn says he tries to laugh along with some of the criticism but enough is enough.

"I think most of it was good-natured," he said. "I got upset finally because when a joke continues for too long, it becomes reality. At that point, I thought I ought to put my foot down and say, 'You know, it is my right to be at the podium. My constituents have sent me up here to speak for them.' "

And, he said, some of the more pointed comments on his filibuster are coming from future political opponents.

"I think there are some people over there (in the House) who want to run against me," Kuhn told the Charleston newspaper. "When you take a tough position, you're going to have a lot of people shouting at you."

Some senators agree with Kuhn's zealous representation of his district.

"He feels he's representing his constituents. He doesn't represent the 86,000 people from Charleston by sitting on the back row doing nothing," said state Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken.

Kuhn said senators will have to get used to it.

"I sort of feel like it's a new day in the Senate, in that the good-old-boy system really is gone. If we who are younger and energetic don't step up and speak up, we allow some of the vestiges of the bad part of South Carolina politics to continue," Kuhn said. "On the other hand, I have to be careful not to overdo it because the leadership has a lot of experience and they've earned the right to run the Senate."

Altman said that while he appreciates Kuhn's candor, the senator "just doesn't understand the issues."

Altman points to a bill introduced by Kuhn that would require public schools to teach a yearlong South Carolina history course to all eighth-graders and another that would allow teachers to seek criminal warrants against students who assault them.

Both already exist in law, Altman said, adding: "I am bewildered when he does those things."