Hinson supporting ex-husband's run

Jimmy Hinson bids for ex-wife's seat

MONCKS CORNER — Seven years after a nasty election and runoff for the House District 92 seat, Rep. Shirley Hinson is supporting her ex-husband's bid for the seat that she gave up.

"We have put that phase of our life behind us," said Hinson, R-Goose Creek, of the acrimony in the 2000 campaign.

Jimmy Hinson is one of three Republicans who have filed for the seat by Thursday's deadline. He is opposed by Goose Creek Mayor Pro Tem Joe Daning and Ellen Cook, a registered nurse who has run for the seat twice before.

The winner of the primary will get the seat since no Democrats filed. The primary is set for Feb. 5 and the runoff, if necessary, is set for two weeks later.

Jimmy Hinson, a Berkeley County School Board member, said a lot has happened since he accused his then-wife of having an affair and she accused him of making death threats.

He said he didn't know she was going to give up the seat for a job in the private sector, but he has since received her support and that of their son. He said she has left some pretty big shoes to fill in terms of constituent service and that he hopes to have a chance to fill them.

Shirley Hinson said she supported Jimmy for the school board and would support him now.

Cook is used to being overshadowed by the Hinsons: she ran against them both in the acrimonious 2000 campaign.

She said she is going to focus on getting elected and instituting legislation that people care about. Cook said she wants to pass legislation that will enable people to care for sick patients at home and stop insurance companies from dictating how benefits should be spent.

"We need to get it in there and push it forward or it will fall behind," Cook said. "It's time government started paying the people instead of people paying the government."

Daning is the director of enrollment and retention at Trident Technical College.

He said Goose Creek has passed a lot of common-sense programs in his 24 years on council and that he wants to bring that same approach to the House.

"I'm a positive guy," he said. "I want to provide some good, stable leadership."

The winner of the primary won't have long to celebrate because the seat will come up for election again in 2008. Filing for the November election begins in March.

Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com.