Photo by: Leslie Cantu

Jordan Bryngelson announces his run for S.C. House District 97, the seat currently held by Rep. Patsy Knight at the Dorchester County GOP breakfast Saturday morning at Kelly's Barbecue on Hwy. 78.

Givhans insurance agent Jordan Bryngelson said Saturday he’ll challenge Rep. Patsy Knight, D-St. George, for her seat.

Bryngelson, 30, spoke at the Lowcountry Conservative Breakfast at Kellys BBQ and asked members to show support even if they don’t live in House District 97, which encompasses about two-thirds of Dorchester County geographically.

Knight has served the county a long time, he said, but “it’s time we got some good representation.”

He contrasted the state of two school districts within the house district – Dorchester School Districts 2 and 4.

One is in the state’s “corridor of shame” and the other is one of the state’s top districts, he said.

“It’s not right because you live in the upper part of the county you shouldn’t have access to good education,” he said.

If elected, he would help bring industry and jobs to the area and improved education, he said.

He said he would maximize the area’s assets, like the intersection of Interstates 26 and 95, which currently consists of little more than gas stations and fireworks stands, he said.

“We can do so much better,” Bryngelson said.

As a young person working to support a family, Bryngelson doesn’t have the luxury of being retired and not worrying about the day-to-day effects of legislation, he said.

“Any legislation that comes through, I’ve got to live it,” he said.

State Sen. Mike Rose, R-Summerville, who is running for re-election, said it’s important to elect Bryngelson because if Knight remains in office, the legislative delegation will be divided 6-6 between Democrats and Republicans.

That would mean that the Democrats could insist on having half the elected officers in the delegation and input on writing the bylaws, Rose said.

Bryngelson’s father, Arthur Brygelson, also spoke on behalf of his son. Arthur Bryngelson, a former county magistrate, was removed from the bench in December pending the results of a misconduct investigation.

Arthur Bryngelson said his son has always been a good person and someone who cares about people.

“I’m proud of him. He will be a good representative,” he said.

Thanks to the redistricting process, the district is for the first time truly a Republican district, he said. It can be won, but that will require money and effort, he said.

Jordan Bryngelson graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in economics.

He has served as treasurer, Givhans precinct president and executive committeeman for the Dorchester County Republican Party and was state executive committeeman in 2009 and 2011.

He’s lived in the district his entire life.

“My family’s been here since the original grant from the king of England. So we’re not newcomers,” he said.

Bryngelson has been married for 10 years to his wife, Lisa, and they have a five-year-old daughter, Bayne.

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