Politics & Government

Swann Latest to Join District 8 Race

Four challengers now looking to take David Thomas' seat.

Joe Swann is the latest to join the race to wrest David Thomas’ long-time hold on the District 8 Senate seat. Long-rumored to be a candidate, Swann made it official with an announcement at Next Innovation Center in Greenville on Thursday. He’s the fifth to declare for the District 8 seat, along with Thomas, Jim Lee, Chad Groover and Ross Turner.

Swann emphasized his business experience in prepared remarks in front of several dozen supporters. He has been a member of the Clemson Board of Trustees for over two decades and has founded two companies that employee hundreds of people. He said that “politicians do not create jobs” and vowed to fight to “job-killing regulations.”

Swann also expressed a desire to bring business principles to Columbia modeled after a “Lean Enterprise and Discovery” method.

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“They worked in manufacturing and they will work in government,” Swann said.

Conceding that most of the District 8 candidates have many similarities, Swann said that he will spend the time from now until Election Day on June 12 clarifying his positions with voters in face-to-face meetings.

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Should Swann be successful in his electoral bid, he would be required to give up his seat on the Board of Trustees at Clemson.

Swann cited his allegiance to the Constitution while explaining why he decided to run.

“I believe the framers of the constitution intended for people like me to give back,“ Swann said. “I care about South Carolina and I believe a business voice would be helpful in Columbia.”


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