Former Stanford swimming captain, 1991 Pan Am Games gold medalist, and Navy SEAL Clay Tippins is taking on a new challenge: politics.
On Thursday, Tippins, 44, filed his paperwork to run for governor of Georgia – in a bid to succeed current governor Nathan Deal, who is term-limited. Tippins is a late fifth addition to the race, where each of the other Republican candidates has experience in government work. This will be Tippins’ first campaign for an elected office, and critics note that he lacks the name recognition and funding of his cohort, but say he could gain favor as an outsider with a blank slate.
Tippins graduated from Stanford in 1995 and is currently tied for the 15th fastest 100 fly time in school history, at 47.61. His 1991 Pan Ams win came in the 4×200 free relay, alongside John Keppeler, Jim Wells, and Eric Diehl.
He joined the SEALs shortly after graduation, then moved back to Silicon Valley to work at a number of startups. Tippins reenlisted in the Navy in the mid-2000s and was dispatched for a tour in Iraq. Now, he is an executive vice president at international information technology consulting firm Capgemini, and resides with his wife and two kids in Atlanta.
The campaign was rumored in early August, and he is expected to make his official announcement in the coming weeks.
44 year old ex Seal Eric Greitens ( D turned R) beat high ranking Rs for the Missouri Governorship . He went on to beat the R turned D candidate . I think ppl are looking to someone not a former State legislator or ( FGS) a former Federal House member or ( God save ya’ll) ) a former Senator .
Clay could do it . If there’s one part of the US I could live in , its Nth Georgia .
A lot of the south particularity Georgia is having faster growth. The US census shows the south where cost of living is lower is doing better than most of the US lowering their poverty rates from 15.3 to 14.1 in 2016 and increasing income over 53,800. Wages tend to be lower in the south but cost of living is much lower than the northeast or state’s like California. He just needs a plan to built on the gains in the south and Georgia. More localism, helped at the local local.
Best of luck to Mr. Tippins with his campaign
In this photo, he looks like an average middle-age corporate dad, not a Navy Seal or swimming champion.
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/08/10/a-fifth-prominent-republican-could-enter-georgia-governor-race/
Here’s the official candidacy page – there’s a photo of him swimming in his younger days. https://claytippins.com/
Not sure if a new face could win the governorship with just a grassroots campaign
I agree, but his resume is incredible. These days people are looking for leaders they can trust. Who knows what will happen?
Go Bears!