Henry Brown
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byMark Sanford
Succeeded byTim Scott
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 99th district
In office
June 25, 1985 – January 3, 2001
Preceded byFrancis X. Archibald
Succeeded byJames H. Merrill
Personal details
Born
Henry Edward Brown Jr.

(1935-12-20) December 20, 1935
Bishopville, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseWinifred Brown
Residence(s)Hanahan, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma materIBM Technical School
OccupationGrocery executive
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States National Guard
UnitSouth Carolina

Henry Edward Brown Jr. (born December 20, 1935) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district from 2001 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He did not stand for re-election in 2010.

The district is based in Charleston and during Brown's tenure in office, took in almost all of the state's share of the Atlantic coastline (except for Beaufort and Hilton Head Island, which at that time were in the 2nd district).

Early life

Brown was born in Bishopville, South Carolina.[1] After graduating from Berkeley High School of Moncks Corner, South Carolina in 1953, Brown attended college at Charleston Southern University but did not graduate. He instead entered the IBM Management and Technical School. He then worked for the Piggly Wiggly grocery chain, becoming a vice president. Brown also spent 10 years as a member of the United States National Guard.

Political career

Brown was elected to the Hanahan city council in 1981 and was later elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1985 as a Republican from Berkeley County. Incumbent Francis Archibald resigned the seat and Brown won handily over opponent Ed Sessions in a June 1985 special election. When the Republicans gained control of the state house in 1994, Brown became chairman of the Ways and Means committee and helped deliver the largest tax cut in state history.[2] He also served as chairman of the state's Joint Tax study Committee and was one of the vocal leaders of a massive 1998 tax proposal.

When 1st District Congressman Mark Sanford decided to honor a pledge to serve no more than six years in the House, Brown ran for the seat, passing out "Oh Henry" candy bars during the primary election as a way to increase his name recognition. He won the runoff with 55% over state Transportation Commissioner Harry "Buck" Limehouse and easily won the general election. The Democrats didn't even field a challenger in 2002 or 2004. In 2006, he won re-election by over 20 points, but surprisingly did not pass the 60% margin in a race against Democratic Randy Maatta and Green candidate Brian Merrill.

In the 2008 election, Brown faced Democratic nominee Linda Ketner. The district had been considered unwinnable for a Democrat since the 1990s round of redistricting shifted most of Charleston's black voters to the majority-black 6th District. However, polls from the summer of 2008 onward showed a closer-than-expected race. Ultimately, Brown barely held onto his seat, winning only 52 percent of the vote to Ketner's 48 percent—the closest race in the district in 22 years. Brown lost badly in Charleston County largely due to Barack Obama winning it with 54 percent of the vote—only the second time a Democratic presidential candidate has carried the county since 1956. However, Brown crushed Ketner in Berkeley and Dorchester counties, enabling him to secure a fifth term. He was also likely helped by John McCain carrying the district with 56 percent of the vote; aside from Jimmy Carter in 1976, the district had supported a Republican for president in every election since 1956.

On January 4, 2010, Brown announced that he would retire from the House and not seek re-election.[3]

In June 2023, Brown endorsed Tim Scott in the 2024 United States presidential election.[4]

Forest fire controversy

In 2004, Henry Brown set a controlled burn on his own property, but the fire spread to the neighboring Francis Marion National Forest, burning 20 acres (81,000 m2). Although he eventually paid a reduced fine of $4,747 in April 2008, the case cost the government an estimated $100,000 to resolve, and forced the Forest Service to rewrite a criminal code, making it much more difficult to prosecute those who negligently set fire to federal property. Brown commented regarding the affair that, "I was so taken aback that I’d be treated so impersonal — like I was some kind of crook...Those were criminal charges that were filed against me. I felt like I was the victim."[5]

Committee assignments

Congressman Brown's committee assignments

Electoral history

South Carolina's 1st congressional district: Results 2000–2008[6][7]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2000 Andy Brack 82,622 36% Henry Brown 139,597 60% Bill Woolsey Libertarian 6,010 3% Bob Batchelder Reform 2,067 1% Joe Innella Natural Law 1,110 <1%
2002 (no candidate) Henry Brown 127,562 90% James E. Dunn United Citizens 9,841 7% Joe Innella Natural Law 4,965 3%
2004 (no candidate) Henry Brown 186,448 88% James E. Dunn Green 25,674 12%
2006 Randy Maatta * 73,218 38% Henry Brown 115,766 60% James E. Dunn Green 4,287 2%
2008 Linda Ketner 163,724 48% Henry Brown 177,540 52%

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2000, write-ins received 40 votes. In 2002, write-ins received 57 votes. In 2004, write-ins received 186 votes. In 2006, write-ins received 104 votes. In 2006, Randy Maatta also ran under the Working Families party. In 2008, write-ins received 615 votes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ henry brown
  2. ↑ "US Congressman Henry E. Brown". Brown.house.gov. 2000-11-07. Archived from the original on 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  3. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (2010-01-04). "Henry Brown retiring - The Scorecard". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  4. ↑ Sen. Tim Scott in Spartanburg to announce campaign endorsements". FOX Carolina. June 12, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ Archived September 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2008-01-10.. Note that the Clerk results incorrectly say that Bob Batchelder was the Natural Law candidate, and provide no candidate for the Reform party.
  7. ↑ "South Carolina November 2000 General Election". The Green Papers. Retrieved 2008-01-24. This citation is for showing Joe Innella's candidacy as the Natural Law candidate, not Batchelder.
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