SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County Councilman Jay Byars has spent more than a decade wrangling local budgets, fast-growing communities and road projects. Now he’s aiming higher and taking a shot at Washington.

Byars on Sept. 17 jumped into the crowded Republican primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, blasting what he called the “ineptitude” of the federal government and vowing to bring home more resources to help the Lowcountry keep up with its rapid growth.

“I’m a little bit tired of watching the drama that's up there,” Byars told The Post and Courier ahead of his campaign launch at Ashley River Park. “If I win, I'm going up there to get some work done.”

Asked what he meant by drama, Byars issued a thinly veiled rebuke of Mace, R-Charleston.

“We have one in particular who hurts our d

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