Rep. Gowdy Endorses Bob Taylor For County Council

On Monday afternoon at a press conference inside Greenville County offices, Bob Taylor was able to get something that no politician—at the county, state or federal levels—has been able to obtain. The endorsement of Congressman Trey Gowdy.

Gowdy told Patch he’s been approached by at least a dozen candidates in the 2012 election cycle for him to endorse, but only Taylor has received it.

Gowdy said that he is grateful for Taylors and his wife’s support in 2010 when he challenged and eventually defeated then-incumbent Bob Ingles.

“I was a guy from Spartanburg County running to represent Greenville, which is the largest county in the district,” Gowdy recalled. “They could have supported me in private, but did so publicly when conventional wisdom told them not to.”

But for Gowdy, supporting Taylor is more than just paying back a political favor.

“I think he’s got  a lot of courage,” Gowdy said of Taylor. “What’s the use of having a job where you can do what you believe is right and then not do it?”

“(Taylor and I) really don’t talk about politics very much,” Gowdy said. “Our relationship is mostly personal, but I would not hesitate to go to him for political advice.”

In brief remarks before family and friends, Taylor pledged to continue to keep taxes low and county government to a minimum.

Taylor represents District 22 in Greenville County, which encompasses much of the area between Wade Hampton Blvd. and Pelham Rd.

Taylor is a professor at Bob Jones University and has served on the council since 2000. He is being challenged in the primary by Jenn Webb. 

Election Day for the primary is June 12.