By Robert Behre
Reprinted from The Post and Courier

Eugene Platt, who came within 40 votes of unseating Rep. Wallace Scarborough last year, said he will try again next year.

Platt, a Democrat, said the narrowness of that loss, combined with encouraging remarks from James Island voters in District 115, persuaded him to try again.

He kicked off his campaign Friday morning by waving at passing motorists on the James Island Expressway with a friend who was dressed up as Santa Claus.

It remains to be seen if the upcoming contest will be anywhere near as raucous as their 2006 race, which was enlivened by the candidates exchanging barbs over Scarborough’s recent divorce, his arrest on a gun charge that later was dropped and Platt’s erotic poetry.

“I personally am not going to make an issue of Wallace’s negative past, and I would urge any of those closely connected with my campaign not to make an issue of it,” Platt said. “Nevertheless, it’s been well-publicized, and people have longer, better memories than they’re given credit for.”

Platt said his message would remain largely the same as it was last year.

“I think people are still concerned about protecting the natural environment and putting the brakes on unbridled development,” he said.

He also said he expected 2008 to be an even better year for Democrats, which would improve his chances against Scarborough, a Republican.

“People over here are far more independent than they are Republican,” Platt said.

Scarborough, who is expected to seek re-election to the District 115 House seat next year, did not return a message Friday.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.