| Thad Viers | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 68th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Murrell Smith, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 13, 1978 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Business Development Consultant |
Thad T. Viers (born March 13, 1978) is a Republican South Carolina State Representative for District 68. He lives in Myrtle Beach.
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Viers was born in 1978 to Brenda and the Bill Viers. Thad Viers grew up in Socastee, South Carolina, off of Highway 814 in Ammons mobile home park. Thad is short for Thaddeus (of the Twelve apostles). Thad has a younger brother also named after one of the Twelve apostles named Bartholomew (Bart for short). In high school, he started a teenage Republican club before becoming an office intern for the late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond. In 1995, Thad graduated from Socastee High School and then matriculated to The Citadel (military college) to pursue a Marine Corps commission, where he was awarded a three year academic scholarship. He was injured and discharged. In 1999, he went to work at the Heritage Foundation where he served with Jack Spencer, now a senior fellow. After the completion of the ABM Missile Treaty Project, Thad returned to South Carolina to become the District Field Representative for former U.S. Congressman Henry Brown. He was also a Business Development Consultant. He graduated from University of South Carolina School of Law in 2007.[1]
In 2002, incumbent Republican State Representative Murrell Smith was redistricted into another district, leaving the 68th House District open. In the Republican primary run-off, Viers defeated Helen Smith 52%-48%.[2] He won the general election with 70%.[3] He won re-election in 2004 (70%), 2006 (91%), 2008 (65%), and 2010 (98%).[4]
He was only one of seven members of the House to vote against the state taking stimulus money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. In 2011, he won the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers “Friend of the Taxpayer” award. He has been endorsed by the NRA and the South Carolina Citizens for Life. He has signed the Americans for Tax Reform “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.”[5]
Viers in running in the newly created South Carolina's 7th congressional district.
He's single. In 2010, he sued the City of Myrtle Beach in the State Supreme Court for an unconstitutional law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets within the city limits.
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