Clay Griner is a lifelong Lowndes County resident who has spent his life serving his community. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in the Griner family. Clay’s family owned and operated Griner Automotive Group, which served South Georgia for over 70 years. In 2014, Clay was elected to serve on the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and is currently serving his third term. Clay and his wife Mendi have three beautiful children – Mary Claire, Ellie, and Thomas – and they attend New Covenant Church in Valdosta.
GET TO KNOW CLAY
Clay Griner is a lifelong Lowndes County resident who has spent his life serving his community. Clay was born and raised in Valdosta, where he graduated from Lowndes High School and then went on to graduate from Valdosta State University in 1996 with a degree in finance.
The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in the Griner family. Clay’s family owned and operated Griner Automotive Group, which served South Georgia for over 70 years. At the age of 12, Clay got his first job washing cars for his family’s dealership, working his way up to General Manager and eventually taking over the family business with his brother.
In 2014, Clay was elected to serve on the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and is currently serving his third term. Clay has succeeded in helping Lowndes County reduce its jail population, cut taxes, build a strong general fund balance and keep the county’s credit rating strong which has benefited the Hospital Authority and Development Authority by allowing them to borrow money at a reduced interest rate.
Growing up, Clay and his family attended First Baptist Church in Valdosta, where he met his future wife, Mendi. High school sweethearts, Clay and Mendi have three beautiful children – Mary Claire, Ellie, and Thomas – and they attend New Covenant Church in Valdosta.
Clay is running for State Representative to bring bold leadership to Atlanta that cuts taxes, reduces job-killing regulation, and brings much-needed investments to the 177th District.
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CLAY ON THE ISSUES
Supporting Law Enforcement
Public safety is a top priority for Clay Griner. Clay will support additional funding, resources, and training for Georgia police officers. As a Lowndes County Commissioner, Clay has successfully reduced the county's jail population and lowered the county’s recidivism rate while expanding resources for the courts and sheriff’s office. As a State Representative, Clay will bring this same bold leadership to Atlanta. Driven by his faith, Clay Griner believes in redemption. By focusing on mental health reforms and rehabilitative justice, Georgia can reduce its prison populations and ease the tax burden on hardworking Georgians. These programs focus on reforming criminals, so they become productive members of our communities instead of returning to a life of crime.
Fixing a Broken Economy
Inflation and interest rates are strangling many hardworking Georgia families who are trying to make ends meet. Instead of being able to put money into savings, many families are going deeper into credit card debt just to put food on their table or fuel in their tanks. A small business owner, Clay knows what it is like to sign the front and the back of a paycheck. He understands that to get the economy back on track, Atlanta needs to cut taxes, reduce burdensome regulation, and get the government off Main Street. As a Lowndes County Commissioner, Clay cut taxes while maintaining a strong general fund balance – in Atlanta, he will put the same business acumen to work fighting to ease the burden on hardworking Georgia families.
Building an Employable Workforce
Clay believes the best way to escape poverty is through education, whether that be attending a traditional college or a vocational school. That is why Clay will be an advocate for increased funding for vocational training at both the high school level and the Technical College System of Georgia. These programs will equip Georgia residents with the skills and resources necessary to join the workforce. Clay understands that college is not the route for every student, and these vocational education programs will give students the resources to compete in a highly competitive job market.
Investing in Infrastructure
Infrastructure, at its core, is the foundation of communities across Georgia. From internet access to road construction, infrastructure is one issue that is on the mind of every Georgian. Safer roads, better schools, and access to clean water are necessary to support growth in Valdosta and Lowndes County. In Atlanta, Clay will fight to help Valdosta and Lowndes County expand the capabilities of their water and sewer systems to make sure they are capable of handling growth for years to come.
Encouraging Homeownership
A key aspect of building wealth and protecting your family from hard economic times is home ownership. In Atlanta, Clay will work with local officials and developers to encourage home ownership. By incentivizing developers to build more affordable houses with lower maintenance requirements, hardworking Georgia families will have a better opportunity to build wealth and escape generational poverty.
Defending our Veterans
Georgia has a proud and large military community that Clay is proud to support – their patriotism and love for country are inspiring. In Atlanta, Clay will advocate for additional mental health and retirement benefits for Georgia’s veteran and active-duty military communities. These brave men and women risk their lives and Clay believes that the state of Georgia should do more to ensure their transition from active duty is as seamless as possible.
PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT CLAY GRINER