Danville business owner challenging Perriello

While the seven Republican candidates hoping to challenge Rep. Tom Perriello this fall have been vocal in their campaigning, a Danville business owner running as an independent has remained quiet.

Jeffrey Clark considered the idea of running for Congress after visiting Perriello in Washington with his family around the time of the health care reform vote. Clark was initially going to run as a Republican, but when the district GOP chairs voted on a primary instead of a convention in December, he opted to run as an independent instead.

“With seven people in the race I felt that probably wouldn’t be conducive,” Clark said. “…The Republican Party wanted to move in that direction and we kind of felt the candidate they have in mind would really stifle some conservative voices. So we decided to run as an independent.”

A native of Hampton Roads, Clark moved with his wife and four children to Danville about seven years ago to be closer to family in North Carolina. Clark owns American Water Testing, a residential and commercial inspection office on South Union Street in Danville.

Although he is running as an independent, his values and platforms align closely with other conservatives — focusing on limited government, low taxes, traditional marriage and pro-life measures, which he outlines on his Web site, crashtheirparty.com. Clark plans to maintain his campaign through November should state Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, who he called a “situational conservative,” win the GOP nomination.

“We have pledged to the other six candidates that if somehow they win the primary, then we’re gonna drop our candidacy (and support the nominee),” Clark said. “The run as an independent was to give those who feel disenfranchised more of a voice.”

Clark, who has no prior political experience, said he participates in Tea Party events and likes what they stand for, but disagreed with the label of the movement as being “simply right-wing.”

“I think that that really illustrates how deep this dissatisfaction goes,” he said. “The anger is directed at government and whoever it may be that is in government.”

Clark said the one thing he hoped to accomplish was to make government more accessible to the common man by inspiring “normal, everyday Americans to step up and realize that the governance of the country was not just intended for those that are lawyers or those that are independently wealthy.” As of the Jan. 31 Federal Election Commission reporting deadline, Clark had not yet raised any money.

Catherine Amos is a staff writer for the Danville Register & Bee.