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Published July 29, 2005
Unexpected departure may leave hotly contested seat up for grabs
A longtime representative of the heart of Spartanburg leaves behind a legacy of hard work, those who know her say.
The departure of Democratic Rep. Brenda Lee also decreases the already small number of minority voices in the Statehouse, and creates an open seat that could become hotly contested.
Lee, 57, of Alexander Avenue, resigned her elected position Thursday after 10 years. She's taking a new job with the state government.
"Hopefully, we'll get somebody just as dedicated as she was. She was a part of the community. She grew up here," said 61-year-old South Converse Street resident Beatrice Hill, a friend of Lee's.
"I hope we get somebody just as dedicated, who realizes it is time-consuming, requires a lot of patience, and has the know-how to go get it. Because Brenda was a go-getter. And I admire her for that."
Several people close to Lee said they expected her resignation sooner or later, but more likely later. Thursday's announcement caught many by surprise.
"It's kind of the buzz right now, because her commitment to this community is one that will be sorely missed," said ReGenesis Executive Director Harold Mitchell.
"She had a serious passion for her district, and the people in it."
Hot seat
Mitchell says he is "heavily considering" a run for Lee's seat in state House District 31.
And Attorney Michael D. Brown said Thursday he's "exploring the opportunity" to run.
Of several names floating around the city's rumor mill, those are the only two so far to confirm interest. Mitchell says he wants to "get out in the community and find out what the people want."
The S.C. Legislative Black Caucus began this year with 33 members. In April, Walterboro Democrat Walter P. Lloyd died, leaving 32. Lee's exit brings the group down to 31 -- out of 170 total state legislators.
"I'm going to miss her," said state Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston, caucus chairman. "She was a tremendous legislator, tremendous person. She really cared about the people in her district and the people of South Carolina.
"She was always there with the right vote and the right thing to say."
Lee was among 29 black lawmakers in February to walk out of judicial elections at the Statehouse to protest the Legislature's failure to select black candidates for the bench.
Mack said Lee had a "progressive mindset," and hopes her successor will as well.
"If that person would pattern themselves after Representative Lee, and be in tune with community interest, that would be a good person," he said.
House District 31 has 31,623 people in it. Of those, 61 percent are black.
Out of 124 state House districts, Lee's district is one of 31 where the black population is 50 percent or higher of the total, according to the state Office of Research and Statistics.
Red and Blue
Lee was first elected to office in 1995, beating Republican Robert Hogue by more than 1,000 votes in a contest to replace Don Beatty.
She had won the Democratic primary in her race over Hudson Barksdale Jr., who no longer lives in Spartanburg.
Lee, the first woman to hold the seat in her district, was unopposed in 1998 and 2002.
Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Rick Beltram says he had an agreement with Lee that Republicans would not oppose her during the most recent election.
"Brenda had done a good job in the district," Beltram said Thursday. "Many times, she had voted with Republicans. But now that it's an open seat, it's a different thought process."
Beltram sees Lee's resignation as an opportunity to pick up a Republican seat. The party will be "actively recruiting" candidates, he said, citing outreach programs to find party representatives "for all demographics of Spartanburg County."
District 31, which cuts a swath through central Spartanburg, traditionally has been Democratic.
Liz Patterson, head of the county's Democratic Party, said she has heard three or four names floating around, but no one has contacted her to express interest.
"We're going to make sure we keep that seat," said Spartanburg City Councilwoman Linda Dogan, 51, a Democrat.
State law requires filing for a special election primary to open at noon on the third Friday after a vacancy occurs. The primary election will be the 11th Tuesday after that seat becomes vacant; and the special election, on the 18th Tuesday after.
That would mean filing to fill her seat, which expires in November 2006, would begin Aug. 12, with the primary to follow on Oct. 11 and the special election on Nov. 29.
The county's Election Commission hasn't yet ironed out specifics.
Legacy
Hill has known Lee since the legislator and businesswoman was just a few years old. The two recently worked together on the book "South of Main," a history of Spartanburg's south side, which is due out later this year.
"She tries to do it all," Hill said. "I feel sure she will … probably watch over the one taking her place, in an affectionate way, to help guide that person."
Magistrate Court Judge James Talley, Spartanburg's former mayor, says he has no interest in seeking Lee's seat, and that he's happy with his current job.
"I've always admired Brenda Lee and the work that she has done," Talley said, adding that ethics laws prevent him from commenting further.
"She has to be satisfied with what she wants to do. She served well," former City Councilman Roy Henderson said. "A certain time comes after you do your public service, to look out for your own career."
Likewise, City Councilman Robert Reeder said he does not want to try for Lee's seat.
"It kind of hit me as a surprise," he said. "We're going to definitely miss Brenda as a representative. She has done a great job for the district.
"Now, I guess we need to see who we can get in there to keep up the momentum."
Jason Spencer can be reached at 562-7214, or jason.spencer@shj.com.
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