ELECTION 2014: American Party of SC looking for quality candidates

A new third party, American Party of South Carolina, is certified with state election officials and seeking candidates for local, statewide and federal offices.

The party founded by Jim Rex, former Democratic S.C. Superintendent of Education, and Oscar Lovelace, a physician who once ran for governor as a Republican, will nominate candidates at a convention in early May, spokesman Scott Malyerck said.

The American Party supports term limits up to 12 years in one seat, transparent financial campaign disclosures and finding non-partisan solutions to help economic growth and global competitiveness, Rex said.

"We know there are moderates in both parties who are pretty lonely and isolated and put themselves at risk if they reach across the aisle," Rex said. "But if they reach into the middle of the aisle, where we are, that could break the deadlock."

The party does not have names to put on the ballot yet but wants quality candidates to make a good first impression with voters, said Rex, who along with Lovelace has no plans to seek office.

While the American Party is seeking candidates for any office, Rex said organizers would like to have challengers run for congress.

Rex stressed the American Party is not looking to spoil the chances of Democrat or Republican candidates but rather to fix a "dysfunctional system" created by the major parties.

This story was originally published January 31, 2014 at 12:01 PM with the headline "ELECTION 2014: American Party of SC looking for quality candidates."