Ron Barnett

rbarnett@greenvillenews.com

Retired Circuit Judge Gary Clary of Clemson is facing a challenge from a Libertarian candidate, Travis McCurry, in his bid for a second term in the state House District 3 seat.

Clary, a 68-year-old Republican, cites his co-sponsorship of two ethics reform bills that were signed into law among the highlights of his first term.

McCurry, a 28-year-old information technology worker, says he decided to run because he wants to limit the role of government in people’s lives.

“I ran to give an option to those in my community that felt they were not being represented well by Gary,” McCurry said. “While Gary is an honorable man, his focus while in office is clearly not to protect liberty. He sees himself as a father figure for his community, wanting his will to be done.”

Clary, a former lawyer, assistant professor at Greenville Technical College and certified mediator and arbitrator as well as a circuit judge, said he sees the transportation infrastructure as the No. 1 issue facing South Carolina.

“To address our crumbling roads and bridges, we have to establish a consistent revenue stream to pay for these repairs,” he said.

He co-sponsored the House roads bill during the 2016 session which included a gas tax hike, which he describes as “a true user fee.”

The Senate killed the House bill, and the Legislature ended up deciding to borrow money for road repairs.

“Approximately one-third of the gasoline sold in South Carolina is used by out-of-state drivers, so it makes sense for these out-of-state drivers to pay their share rather than all of us South Carolinians paying 100 percent from the general fund,” he said.

The state gas tax has remained the same since 1987, at 16.75 cents per gallon.

He said the state also will be faced with funding issues to obtain federal disaster relief funds to repair damage from Hurricane Matthew.

Clary said he also will continue to fight for full disclosure of third-party organizations that influence political campaigns with “dark money” by requiring the names of contributors to be made public.

Also among accomplishments during his term, he lists his sponsorship of a bill that requires the state Department of Education to provide dyslexia training to all literacy coaches and literacy teachers in kindergarten through grade 3; co-sponsorship of legislation addressing educational inequity in poor school districts; and, along with other members of the county’s delegation, sponsoring legislation designed to protect Pickens County from coal ash being placed in landfills such as one proposed for a site near Liberty.

McCurry said if elected he would push for a “Constitutional Carry” law that would do away with some of the restrictions on carrying firearms.

“It would not be hard. Simply repeal the laws banning it and get rid of the licensing requirement,” he said. “An armed society (is) a safe one.”

He also wants to pass a “Right to Try” bill, which he said would be a first step in nullifying the “unconstitutional” Food and Drug Administration.

“A sick person who is dying of any illness should not have to ask their government's permission to try a medication, nor should a drug manufacturer have to ask to provide it,” he said. “Laws like this doom sick and dying Americans to death without any hope.”