Navy vet, reservist declares candidacy

Mark Fava, a former Mount Pleasant town councilman, announced Monday he will run for the 1st Congressional District seat as a Republican.

Fava, a 46-year-old lawyer, said he decided to enter the race because he is concerned about the growing national debt and would work to create more jobs and fight for less federal government.

"It is simply unconscionable to be leaving a legacy of debt to my three children and the next generation as well. Every single minute, the federal government adds $3 million of new national debt. We have to restore true fiscal responsibility to government and do so through spending cuts and not by raising taxes," he said.

"We've got to stop kidding ourselves about all the money we're spending."

Fava's entry makes the GOP primary more crowded. Incumbent

Rep. Henry Brown has said he is running again and has almost $700,000 on hand. Carroll "Tumpy" Campbell III, a son of former Gov. Carroll Campbell, entered the race earlier this year. Katherine Jenerette of North Myrtle Beach also has said she will run as a Republican.

Air Force Col. Robert Burton of Mount Pleasant, Robert Dobbs of Georgetown and Richard B. Withington of Pawleys Island have announced or expressed interest in running as Democrats for the seat.

Fava has a well-known father, too, at least in Charleston County. Ed Fava, former county administrator and county councilman, is serving as his son's treasurer in the race.

Fava served as a Mount Pleasant councilman from 1998-2001, when he resigned to move to Atlanta to take a job as Delta Air Lines' chief operations attorney. He returned to the Lowcountry three years later and is a partner at the Nelson Mullins law firm.

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Fava, a former Navy captain and current Navy Reservist, said his military record also sets him apart. "There's nobody else that has that level of experience," he said. "I'm fortunate to be wearing the uniform, still drilling and on my third commanding officer tour."

His campaign is being run by Chris Drummond, former communications director for Gov. Mark Sanford and manager of 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson's 2008 re-election bid.

Fava said he has heard he must raise a few hundred thousand dollars to be competitive, "but I don't think money is going to be buying this election. I think people are underestimating the frustration of the voters and the viral power of the Internet. ... It's not about the money anymore. It's about the message and the voter frustration as far as what is going on."

Filing for congressional candidates, as well as other races, opens March 16. The primaries are June 8 and the general election is Nov. 2.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.