Cong. OH-18: "Old Fogey" Firman (R) Steps Up

I love this guy! Retired from farming, army aviation, and newspaper publishing, 70-year-old Samuel "Jerry" Firman (R-Coschocton) is a citizen journalist who blogs under the name Old Fogey. His blogging activities led him to a meeting at the Tuscarawas Board of Elections, where he learned about the special primary election to replace Rep. Bob Ney and decided then and there to run for public office. The Coschocton Tribune fills us in:

Firman ... resides on Township Road 26 in Keene Township at the intersection known as Cows Corner. His campaign headquarters is not high tech - he has one phone line and dial-up Internet connection. His budget is not large - he gets by on a small Social Security check. The 70-year-old U.S. Army veteran and former owner of the Free Enterpriser says his military background and years as a newsman are the only qualifications he needs to win the race.

"I have no political background," Firman said. As a young man, he registered as a Democrat. As he got older, he changed to the Republican party and later to an Independent. "Now I'm a Republican ... and I'm going to be the best Republican I can be." ...

"I have the experience. I have the intelligence. And if anyone doubts either of these things I have a great body of writings that I have done over the years, most of which now is available online."

Firman's blog is refreshing -- honest, funny, no posturing. He's proud to have filed petitions to run in this race, and I can't help but feel proud too. It's a great country!