S.C. Sen. Greg Hembree talks re-election campaign, goals for the future

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - South Carolina State Sen. Greg Hembree (R-District 28) has been serving Horry and Dillon counties for over ten years.

Now, he is hoping for four more.

“My main reason is I love the area. Number two, I’ve figured out how to help the area, and I’ve, you know, had some success doing it, along with working with others,” said Hembree.

Hembree told WMBF News he is ready to hit the ground running - both in 2024 and in, he hopes, another senate term.

One thing he said he is proud of is his work as chair of the Education Committee. He said one of his goals is to tighten the regulations for the Read to Succeed program, an initiative to make sure kids are reading at grade level by the time they leave third grade.

“Nobody’s being held back because they’re not reading on grade level, it’s not being implemented with integrity across the state,” said Hembree. “This is going to tighten up the requirements on that, and it will sort of force local districts to, you know, either hold back or get them up to grade level.”

He also said he is working on a new bill related to firearm possession.

“It increases the penalties on people that possess unlawfully,” said Hembree. “The penalties on that in South Carolina right now are very weak.”

WMBF News also asked Hembree about the long-debated idea of bringing Interstate 73 to the Grand Strand. Although the funding isn’t in the governor’s budget for 2024, Hembree said he thinks it will happen at the right time.

“Do I think it’s dead? Absolutely not,” said Hembree. “The permits are there, the right of way’s been purchased, engineering’s ready, it’s just a matter of flipping the switch and firing up the bulldozers but you’ve got to have money to do that.”

In terms of Horry County’s rapid growth, Hembree said it is something that concerns him. He said he is working on some ideas to put more responsibility on local government, but being at the state level, his hands are tied.

“Land use is a local issue controlled by the county and by the cities, and if the public is upset about it, they really, really, really need to call their city and county officials,” he said.

When WMBF News brought up the recent cross burning just outside of Conway’s city limits, Hembree called it “despicable.” He said he is in support of a state-wide hate crime bill.

“My feelings on it have changed, I’ll tell you. (As a) former prosecutor, I don’t think the law would add anything to existing law,” said Hembree. “I mean, assault is a hate crime. If I punch you in the face, I’m not doing it because I like you. So I always thought they were just kind of nothing bills, but I also recognized...sometimes you do things that are symbolic.”

Hembree faces a Republican primary in June before November’s general election.

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