CLEMSON — Jason Gale has announced his bid to run for South Carolina House District 3.

Gale is a Democrat and will face Republican incumbent Republican B.R. Skelton in November.

This is the first run for political office for Gale, who was born in Spartanburg and lived in the Upstate, the Midlands and Raleigh, N.C., while growing up.

Gale said he will work for healthy schools, healthy people and a healthy environment. He wants to provide opportunities for people who work hard to provide for themselves and their families, to make sure that one illness or injury doesn't completely wipe out someone's life savings and to protect the state's unique natural heritage as a legacy for our children.

"Health care costs are so out of control that we live in fear of being bankrupted by having to care for our loved ones," he said. "That is wrong. The only way out of this hole is to encourage state and local involvement in lowering health care costs and expanding coverage for people who currently have no health insurance.

"I believe healthy communities are built on a foundation of healthy schools, healthy people and a healthy environment," he added. "We must continue to improve our public schools, fight for change in our health care system to lower costs and expand coverage and conserve the environment in ways that make economic sense."

Gale graduated from Lexington High School in 1989 and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Clemson University. He lives in Clemson with his wife and two children.

The third district includes Central, Six Mile and Clemson.

Skelton won a hotly contested Republican primary in June topping challenger Troy Whitehurst 1,524 to 1,280, in a battle that was charged with claims by Skelton of outside money influence and big spending in Columbia by Whitehurst.