McMaster likely to run unopposed this year

No one has indicated interest in post; filing opens mid-March

By RICK BRUNDRETT

Staff Writer

In 2002, Henry McMaster defeated three opponents — two Republicans and a Democrat — to win the state attorney general’s seat. Four years later, nobody has stepped up yet to run against McMaster in his bid to win a second term.

But McMaster, a former state Republican Party chairman, says he’s not taking anything for granted.

As of last week, McMaster had about $430,000 in his campaign war chest, according to the state Ethics Commission. McMaster’s spokesman, Trey Walker, said McMaster needs to raise $1.5 million to $1.7 million for the general election.

“We are gearing up for a full battle,” McMaster said last week. “There’s no such thing as a nonchalant election.”

If McMaster has no major-party opposition this year, it will be the first such uncontested election for attorney general since 1990, when Democrat Travis Medlock won his third term.

Lachlan McIntosh, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said his party has not found a candidate yet, though several people have expressed interest.

The filing deadline is March 30. The primary is June 13; the general election is Nov. 7.

“I really don’t feel comfortable divulging what races we’re going to have candidates in,” McIntosh said.

Steve Benjamin of Columbia, McMaster’s Democratic opponent in 2002, said last week he won’t run this year.

“I’m enjoying practicing law and enjoying private life,” he said. “I’m hopeful the Democratic Party will have a solid candidate.”

Had Benjamin won, the former director of the state probation and parole department would have become the state’s first black attorney general and the first black candidate elected to a statewide office. McMaster won in the general election by a margin of 11 percentage points.

McMaster also defeated two opponents — Larry Richter, a former state senator and circuit court judge, and Jon Ozmint, now the state Corrections Department director — in the Republican primary and runoff.

Ozmint, who was appointed corrections director by Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, said he is not interested in running for attorney general this year.

“I think if you ask across the legal community, you’ll find most folks are proud of the way Henry has run the office,” he said.

Richter, a Mount Pleasant attorney, said he won’t run for attorney general this year, though he left open the door for a future bid for public office.

Katon Dawson, the state Republican Party chairman, said he’s not aware of any Republicans or Democrats who plan to challenge McMaster.

“Henry has done a superb job,” he said. “I would hate to be the Democratic Party chairman and look someone across the table and say, ‘Here’s why you should run against Henry.’”

McMaster, 58, was U.S. attorney for South Carolina from 1981-85. He lost bids for the U.S. Senate in 1986 and lieutenant governor in 1990.

He entered late in the 2002 Republican primary race for attorney general after state Sen. John Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, dropped out. Political observers said McMaster had instant name recognition, which helped him quickly raise money for the primary and general elections.

Reach Brundrett at (803) 771-8484 or rbrundrett@thestate.com.

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