South Carolina lawmaker reflects on career as term ends

GREENVILLE, S.C. — In 2015, just after a white supremacist gunned down nine church members at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, freshman State Rep. Gary Clary made a political gamble.

The legislator was the first Republican lawmaker to call for the Confederate Flag to come down from atop the Statehouse in Columbia.

"There's a political risk, but I have never been one to consider the political side of things. I've always tried to do the right thing," said Clary, who represents the Clemson-area district, which sits in the most Republican county in South Carolina.

On July 10, the flag came down after days of protests, counter-protests and a bipartisan support from lawmakers.

"I told my wife after that was over that if I don't do another thing while I'm in the General Assembly, this is something that I'm very proud of ..." he said.

Clary, a retired judge, did do more in his six years in office representing District 3 – the area encompassing Clemson, Clemson University, Six Mile, Central and Norris – in the South Carolina House of Representatives. But this year is Clary's last.

Last year, Clary announced his decision not to seek reelection, saying he felt the time was right to move on to his next adventure in public service.

"There’s something to be said for knowing when to leave and leaving on your own terms. It was right," Clary told The Independent Mail and Greenville News in downtown Clemson on March 16.

He plans to travel, spend time with his grandchildren and continue to cheer for the Lander University Women's Basketball team, which is coached by his son-in-law.

But overall, the retired judge isn't sure exactly what he'll do next. He only knows it'll be in public service – a field he's served in for over 30 years.

"I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up," Clary said.