When he was 12 years-old, Jordan Pace began noticing things whenever he visited his friends’ homes. Their houses were bigger. They had swimming pools. There wasn’t a 10-year-old minivan parked in their driveway. They were better off financially; the Paces weren’t.
But there were also important things inside their modest ranch house in Wellford, located in South Carolina’s Upstate. Things more valuable than money. There was love, family closeness, and values that have stood the test of time. Such as hard work. Jordan learned them firsthand by seeing his dad Tony labor in a textile mill and his mother Vonda do a variety of church jobs.
His grandfather encouraged an early interest in politics. Together they listened to conservative radio programs, instilling in Jordan the importance of government based on constitutional principles. That interest was reinforced by his mom’s service on a Christian public policy committee. Jordan met state legislators and leading South Carolina political figures through her meetings.
In fact, faith has been an essential element in Jordan’s entire life. In his own words, “I literally grew up in church.” He participated in mission trip to Nicaragua as a teenager and also found time to play football at Byrnes High School.
Then it was off to Charleston Southern University, where he served two terms as student body president. He broadened his cultural experience by spending a summer coaching a semi-pro American football team in Istanbul, Turkey.
After graduating from CSU, Jordan worked a string of multiple jobs to make ends meet, such as giving guided historical tours to Charleston’s visitors. He earned his real estate license, served as a congressional staffer, and eventually landed a job as a field director for a limited government watchdog. There he played an instrumental role in helping defeat a local tax hike in Greenville and fighting off the state gasoline tax hike for several years.
He returned to real estate profession, and also launched a new career as a teacher at Northwood Academy in Goose Creek. Additionally, he served as chairman of the Lowcountry chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Jordan is actively involved in Journey Church. That’s where he got to know Mary Davidson, a Charleston Southern University track star and certified physical therapist assistant. They married in 2015.
Now, this limited government activist is ready to apply his substantial experience to work by serving us as our next state representative.
More than 30 years later, Tony and Vonda Pace still live in the same ranch style house where Jordan grew up. And the values he learned inside it still guide him today.