COLUMBIA, S.C. - Edgefield's state senator is running to replace U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., and Democrat Jane Dyer, who lost to Barrett in November, says she is ready for round two.

Mr. Massey is currently the State Senator for District 25, representing Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda Counties.

Both Dyer and Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, say it's time to get spending under control.
Dyer says she's ready to be a conservative Democratic voice among the dominant party in Washington.

"We have so many huge problems, and we need some leadership," she said. "Most of our (congressional) representatives in the past don't believe in government and don't believe in doing anything."

Massey said he was driven to run by recent efforts in the halls of Congress to address the nations economic crisis. He said he would not have challenged Barrett, who is running for governor.

"Primarily all the bailout mess and the so-called stimulus plans," concerned him, he said. "The more I sat and listened to the debate we've been having in South Carolina about whether we should accept the money, the more ticked off I got."

Dyer, who in November lost to Barrett (65-35 percent), said she could carry more weight on the Democratic-majority national stage.

The majority party always has the most say, said the Anderson County FedEx pilot.

"But, of course, people are beginning to realize there are a lot of conservative Democrats whose goal is to solve the problems and hold the line on spending on spending, and I would be one of those."

In Massey's view, Congress should not have approved the hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus money.

Massey, who at 33 is the youngest member of the state Senate, won a special election to replace retiring Democrat Tommy Moore in 2007. He defeated Democrat Greg Anderson in the November election and started his first full term representing the 25th state Senate district.

The district includes Edgefield and McCormick counties and parts of Aiken and Saluda counties.

The Edgefield attorney and his wife had their first child (Carter) last fall, and Massey said he considered the demands of raising a young family before deciding to enter the race for the 3rd congressional district.

"My wife and I talked about that a good bit. In fact, I even got some input from Congressman Barrett and his staff about the time commitment and its impact on family," he said. "Through those conversations, I've been encouraged I could do this."

State Republican Reps. Michael Thompson, Rex Rice and Jeff Duncan are also rumored to be eying the 3rd congressional seat. The heavily Republican district covers Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda and part of Aiken County.
Candidates may officially file to run in mid-March of next year.