Mike Clampitt, Swain County Republican, declared he plans to run in the 2020 election for a second term to serve in the state house at a Swain County Republican Party fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 12.
This will be his fifth attempt at the seat, which he lost to Queen in the 2018 election.
Clampitt won the seat from Queen in 2016, the same year President Donald Trump won the presidency after drawing a sweep of supporters to the polls.
On Saturday, the party hosted supporters at Darnell Farms. The event included a Local Country Boil. Special guests included U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC 11), NC Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley and Justice Paul Newby of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
“I’d like to continue to work for our constituents and recognition for our three counties to get things done for this area,” said Clampitt in an interview Monday. “I think my past performance and record reflects I was an advocate for Swain, Jackson and Haywood County.”
He was critical of his competition, saying of Queen: “I’ve run against him five times. He has a good history of telling people what they want to hear, and I’m not going to make empty promises.”
Clampitt said if elected he wants to represent people in his rural district.
“I’d like to show continuation of support for local farms, wildlife rights for hunters,” he said. “Two years ago, the Wildlife Commission wanted to change the turkey season dates to after Thanksgiving. A family tradition here has always been to go out with dad and grandpa to do turkey hunting, so I advocated against that.”
Clampitt said he would continue to focus on public safety if elected to another term in the state house. His background is in the field of public service and safety, having worked for 31 years in fire service including 28 years with the city of Charlotte as Fire Captain.
On the current budget deadlock, Clampitt was critical of the Democratic Party, saying, “To me, there’s talking out of both sides out of your mouth from the left about getting people their money and then vetoing the budget.
“The Republican-led legislature has greatly increased wages for teachers and state employees,” he said, adding the party has shown it can promote a good economy for the state.
Meadows, who has been in office since 2013, has proven an influential Congressman, and is considered one of the President’s closest allies. Clampitt said he would continue to work with the Congressman if able.
“I’ve worked with his office on many different occasions from Veterans benefits to settlement of the Road to Nowhere money,” he said.
Clampitt added one of his focuses would be constituent services. For example, he said, he worked with people to solve issues with their retirement benefits for through the state treasurer’s office and “overcoming the hurdles of the bureaucracy,” he said.
In Haywood County, he said, the school system got a parcel of land for Junaluska School state held and gave it to the school system at no charge, with the help of his advocacy.
Also at the event on Saturday, Cody White declared his intent to run for the Swain County Board of Education in 2020. This would be his first attempt at the seat. According to Swain County Board of Education, Mitchell Carson has also field an intent to run for school board.
Curtis Cochran also spoke on Saturday, and said he plans to file to run for Swain County Sheriff again.
The Swain Republican Party’s next fundraising event will be a chili lunch on Nov. 9 at the Swain County Senior Center.
Filing will be Dec. 2-Dec. 20 at noon.