Camden, S.C.

Fifth District: Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marlboro, Newberry, Sumter & York.

Term: 1998-2004

Born August 15, 1948, in Athens, Georgia.

Married Anne West Carruth on December 16, 1978.

Children: Herbert Clay, III; George West; Carl West

Served in the United States Army from February 28, 1969 until February 22, 1971, when he was honorably discharged. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of South Carolina (USC) in 1973. He was a Ph.D. candidate at USC in Comparative Literature from 1973-1976; he resigned to attend the University of Tennessee School of Law from 1977-1979. He received his J.D. from the USC School of Law in 1980.

Worked with:

Office of the South Carolina Attorney General, staff attorney, 1982-1984;

Office of the South Carolina Attorney General, assistant Attorney General (child support division), 1984-1985;

Public Service Commission of South Carolina, staff counsel, 1985-1990; and

South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee, director of research and attorney, since 1990. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association.

Served on the following civic, charitable, etc. organizations:

Southern Legislative Conference Energy and Environment Committee;

Buckley School of Public Speaking Forensic Society;

Federalist Society;

Wilson Hall Athletic Association;

Camden Country Club; and

Springdale Hall Club.

Elected to Public Service Commission of South Carolina July 1, 1998

Member, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

Member, Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (SEARUC).
Term ended March 2004.