Conservative activist challenges Ballentine for SC House seat

A conservative activist says he will challenge a Midlands GOP incumbent for a seat in the S.C. House of Representatives.

Britton Wolf of Irmo said Wednesday that he will run in the Republican primary against Chapin’s Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland, in the 2018 Republican primary.

Wolf is a high school lacrosse coach and former logistics supervisor. He says he wants to focus on repealing the Base Load Review Act, which allows SCE&G to charge its customers for construction of a Fairfield County nuclear reactor that has been abandoned.

“I’m calling for a full repeal of the BLRA, and for free market solutions that drive down costs through competition,” Wolf said.

Wolf touts his training as an activist by the Leadership Institute and the Foundation of Applied Conservative Leadership. A former missionary, he has been ecclesiastical leader for a Spanish-speaking congregation in West Columbia.

Ballentine said he welcomes a competitive race.

“It’s not about individuals. It's about getting results done for the community and the state, and we've got several critical issues that we continue to address: energy reform, ethics reform, holding corrupt politicians accountable,” Ballentine said. “I look forward to earning the community's support again and continuing to move on these issues and making more progress.”

Ballentine last was challenged in the GOP primary by Richland County Councilman Bill Malinowski in 2016. Ballentine held on to the Republican nomination with 84 percent of the vote.

House District 71 covers portions of Lexington and Richland counties.

This story was originally published February 28, 2018 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Conservative activist challenges Ballentine for SC House seat."