Lee Bright
| Lee Bright | |
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| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 12th district |
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In office January 2009 – January 2017 |
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| Preceded by | John D. Hawkins |
| Succeeded by | Scott Talley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 21, 1970 Greer, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Amy Bright |
| Children | 2 |
Lee Bright (born March 21, 1970) is an American politician in South Carolina. A Republican, Bright is a former member of the South Carolina Senate. First elected in 2008, until 2017 he represented the 12th District which includes Spartanburg and Greenville counties.
Lee Bright was born in a trailer park in Greer, South Carolina. Bright graduated from Dorman High School in 1988.
Bright was elected to the Spartanburg School District Six Board in 1999, and served on the board until his election to the South Carolina legislature. As a school board member, Bright called for teaching creationism in school science classes, explaining, "they're teaching evolution right now in school, and it's only a theory." In 2005, Bright was recognized with a "Friend of the Taxpayer" award from Citizens for Efficient Government.
After serving as a trucking brokerage salesman for many years, Bright started his own trucking business, On Time, LLC. The company grew to employ over 100 people but failed in 2008.
Since the insolvency of his trucking company, Bright has been employed in a number of salesmen roles and in 2014 he started The Bright Agency, an independent insurance agency.
Bright contested the district 12 South Carolina senate seat held by first-term incumbent John Hawkins in 2004, losing in a tight race by less than 50 votes.
In 2008 Bright successfully challenged for the district 12 senate seat. Hawkins chose not to seek reelection, leaving Bright to contest state Rep. Scott Talley for the Republican nomination, which he ultimately won, along with the general election.
The 2012 election marked a replay of 2004 as John Hawkins came out of retirement to challenge Bright in a campaign noted for its intensity. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley endorsed Bright over Hawkins, a move some claimed was in response to Hawkins' endorsement of Haley's 2010 election rival, Democrat Vincent Sheheen. Bright was, ultimately, handily reelected winning every precinct in his district and 65% of the primary vote. He went on to win the general election as well.
Bright lost his 2016 re-election bid in a primary runoff to former state Rep. Scott Talley. His failed bills to track refugees resettling in South Carolina and to limit which bathrooms transgender individuals can use may have contributed to his defeat. Nikki Haley reversed herself and endorsed Bright's opponent this year.
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