Ravenel becomes fourth GOP U.S. Senate candidate

Thomas Ravenel annouces his candidacy for the U.S. Senate at the Greenville Downtown Airport Thursday afternoon. Staff/Owen Riley Jr. e-mail this story More details THOMAS RAVENEL Born: 1962, Charleston Education: The Citadel, bachelor of science degree, 1985; University of South Carolina, master of business administration, 1991 Career: President, Ravenel Development Corp. Church: French Huguenot Marital status: Single

His own business creates jobs, Ravenel said during press conferences during an all-day fly-around of the state's major media markets that ended in Greenville.

"I know first-hand that small business is the engine that drives our economy," he said. "And to grow this economy we've got to cut taxes. Lowering taxes helps create jobs and encourages Americans to work, save and invest."

Ravenel, 40, said he would support meaningful tort reform as a means of ending "an epidemic of out-of-control, frivolous lawsuits."

He joins a field that includes U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, former Attorney General Charlie Condon of Sullivans Island, and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride.

His father is state Sen. Arthur Ravenel of Mt. Pleasant, who served four terms in the U.S. House, 1987-95, before leaving for an unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination for governor. The candidate is the founder and president of Ravenel Development Corp., a commercial real estate firm.

Ravenel enters the race with the most money — just over $1 million — most of it from his own checkbook in the form of a $950,000 loan of seed money.

Asked how much of his own money he was prepared to put into the campaign, Ravenel said, "I want to raise money from people throughout South Carolina. I don't want to put a number on it, but I'll tell, whatever it takes."

DeMint reported raising $976,788 through June 30 and had $811,462 in cash on hand. Condon reported his best fund raising ever, $451,140 for his first full quarter in the campaign and $440,628 in the bank.

Ravenel said he would wage a 46-county campaign built around "listening to the people of South Carolina and talking with them about our shared vision of the American dream."

Democratic U.S. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, a 37-year incumbent, hasn't indicated whether he will seek another term. But Hollings, 81, has authorized state party leaders to seek out potential successors. So far, state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum has expressed an interest in the race if Hollings retires.

Ravenel said he represented the best choice for Republicans because "I'm going to put together the best organization, the best team, the best message. No less will be required to win back this seat so we have two conservative (senatorial) voices from South Carolina. I'm the best because I bring to the table a record of (business) success and accomplishment."

South Carolina's other senator is Republican Lindsey Graham of Seneca.

The campaign will be Ravenel's second political venture. He lost a 1988 state House primary and said he had not been very active in party affairs.

"I want to start in the U.S. Senate because at that level I can be effective day one," he said. "I don't want to start in the U.S. House and be one of 435, where you have to stay there and build tenure to become a career politician before you become effective."

Ravenel said he didn't buy into the notion, as "many people do," that South Carolina should have one senator from the Upstate and one from the Lowcountry, but "I'm not going to be out there discouraging that feeling."

—

Dan Hoover covers politics and can be reached at 298-4883.