RICHWOOD, Ohio — U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, is not up for re-election until 2018, but a challenger has already announced his intention to unseat Jordan come next year.
Andrew Mackey, 33, of Richwood in Union County announced his candidacy Thursday to run as a Democrat for Ohio’s 4th Congressional District seat. A former court investigator and deputy clerk for Union County Probate Court, Mackey has long had a desire to serve the public, he said.
“I’ve always wanted to work in government,” he said. “I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about two years ago, so I’ve been working through that. I love the idea of people looking out for one another and taking care of their communities.”
Mackey said he always thought he would have the opportunity to run for public office later in life, but his Parkinson’s diagnosis prompted him to run now rather than wait until later.
One of Mackey’s primary concerns when it comes to policy is the Affordable Care Act and efforts by congressional Republicans to repeal it, one of the reasons why he chose a congressional run as his entry point into the political scene.
“The part about people with pre-existing conditions possibly going into high risk pools is something that I am directly affected by,” he said. “These are things I can talk about personally, and I think that’s where I can make the biggest impact and show people what we’re capable of doing.”
Ensuring that rural areas have access to health resources, especially in light of Ohio’s opioid crisis, is also a priority for Mackey, he said.
Mackey will hold a meet and greet session at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Lima Public Library. More information about Mackey and his campaign can be found at http://bit.ly/2rBpENb.
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