EDGEFIELD – Political stardom has always proven a slippery ledge to navigate.

But winning a state senate race for a party which has never before held the seat can offer a young politician the opportunity to walk among those constellations, especially when that person is as young, energetic and as likeable as Edgefield’s Shane Massey.

So Massey simply avoids the trail altogether. Besides, he’d much rather attend Town Hall meetings – not for what he can say, but for what his constituency can tell him.

Even as he continues to gather support in a run for Congress, he listens. He hasn’t forgotten who put him in his state senate seat. And what he has most often heard is the sound of frustration – too often people don’t feel their concerns are being heard.   

“There is a whole lot of frustration out there,” he said Monday. “This district is more conservative than the nation generally and when you talk about expanding government that gets people around here nervous ands that’s probably an understatement. People feel like they aren’t being represented and that’s the reason why I like town hall meetings. We’re not always going to agree, but people want to know that their elected officials are listening to them. People feel the country is changing for the worse right in front of them and they feel helpless. It’s important for people to know they have elected officials who will listen to them and fight for their common beliefs and that’s a driving force for why I’m in this race.”

Massey entered the arena fighting for his political life right out of the gates, but once he was able to settle into his position he says he’s gained a much better grasp of the landscape. His first big test will come in June with the Republican primary.

“I think I have a better understanding of the process having been there (in Columbia) and seen what goes on,” he said. “You get a better understanding of how to get things done and so from that perspective my experience in the (state) legislature has been very helpful. But if you take a look at the most important issues right now they seem to be national issues like energy, healthcare and spending. Those issues are at the national level and that’s not always the case in politics. I want to make sure that people in rural areas have a voice and an input in making those decisions.”

He also feels that Americans have a very big question they must ponder.

“We’ve gotten to the point where we really have to answer a question that maybe we haven’t had to ask since the 1860s and that is who do we want to be?” Massey said. “Do we want to be more government driven or do we want to be more focused on the private sector? It’s reached a point to where we’re talking about changing the country, so who do we really want to be? Ultimately, what we have to ask is, as Americans, are we going to be more like Europe or be more reliant on personal responsibility and initiative to make things happen.”

Massey and his wife, Blair, have also become new parents to daughter Carter during the beginning of his political career. And being daddy has a way of helping to keep things in proper perspective.

“I think it’s been great to help me slow things down a little bit,” he said. “When we talked earlier about those big issues, fatherhood makes you think about issues in the context of how are these things going to affect my child and children? Who do we want to be for (future generations) is a much more pressing question when you have children yourself.”

And the whole political stardom thing?
Well, this is one state senator who isn’t buying into it.

“I really think when people start paying attention it that stuff you are in some deep trouble,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to live in small town. There are people here who are not afraid to slap me in back of head when I mess up. It’s easy to read those things and think you’re more important than what you are so you have to have people to bring you back down to earth. And also, Blair is pretty good about telling me if I’m being an idiot. I have some very good friends who will shoot straight with me. It’s important to have people who will keep you grounded so you don’t forget where you came from. I have that living here.”

“I’ve been extremely blessed by the people who have put their confidence in me and I just want to continue to do the best that I can in that job. I want people to understand that I’m going to be all over the district. I’m not going to ignore the people who put me here. I just want to work hard and do my best and maybe make the world a little better place.”