Bryan Clifton announces candidacy for S.C. House
July 20, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Bryan Clifton, local businessman, says it’s time for “a fresh, new voice” to represent Irmo and Chapin. Today he announced his candidacy for State House District 85.
Clifton, a Republican, said he simply wants to serve the community he loves.
“The Irmo-Chapin area is a special place. “My goal is to give them the quality representation they deserve.”
He said he believes it’s time for a change.
“The incumbent is certainly a fine individual. But most people agree that 18 years is far too long for one person to hold our community’s only seat at the State House,” said Clifton. “It’s time for a fresh, new voice. New ideas and perspectives are necessary to keep government healthy and in touch with the needs of ordinary taxpayers.”
Clifton, 40, says he’ll serve no more than three terms if elected.
He said he plans to emphasize his business experience — he’s founder of Clifton Custom Homes, a successful home construction and remodeling business – as well as his reputation for bringing people and ideas together and completing projects. “Having built a successful business from the ground up, I understand that hard work gets results. And I believe my background will be an asset, particularly on small business and economic development matters,” he said.
A fiscal conservative, Clifton says protecting the taxpayers will be a top priority.
“It’s time to get serious about reforming our spending habits,” he said. “I’ll be a leader in the effort to restructure and streamline state government, to reduce costs and save taxpayer dollars.”
His other goals include: strengthening the state’s ethics laws; improving public education; reducing the regulations on small businesses; and working with local leaders to protect our neighborhoods’ quality of life.
Clifton says he was even more inspired to run after witnessing the General Assembly’s lack of accomplishments this year. The lackluster session is a symptom of “politics-as-usual” at the State House, he said. “Lobbyists, political action committees and special interests wield too much influence and its we the taxpayers that are suffering due to the lack of progress.”
“If we’re to truly move our state forward, we need leaders who are willing to rise above politics and focus on solving our state’s problems. We need more business minded people that are willing to be a voice for the citizens.”
Clifton is married to his high school sweetheart, Kelli Blanchard Clifton, a former public school teacher who serves as Children’s Director at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. They have a son and a daughter, ages 10 and 12.
