jon russell

Washougal resident Jon Russell visited Cathlamet September 30 to announce his candidacy for the US House of Representatives.

Russell, a Republican, is seeking the seat held by Democrat Brian Baird.

Russell has been a member of the Washougal City Council since 2006. He works as business manager in a medical clinic operated by his wife.

"I want to be your congressman in part to restore trust in government," he told a crowd of close to 20 persons gathered in the commissioners meeting room of the county courthouse.

Russell offered ideas on a variety of issues. He said his experience in the medical field has generated ideas to improve the nation's health care system. Businesses and individuals in Washougal have established a system that helps people cover their health care costs, and this system could be expanded to the national level, he said.

"We need to provide basic health care without one dime from the government," he said. "It can be done."

Russell also said he supports a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget.

A proponent of term limits, he promised to serve only six years if elected. Long tenure in office changes people, he said.

Russell criticized actions of congress and the federal government to bail out the ailing financial industry in the current recession. That expense and the estimated cost of the federal health care proposals are creating severe national debt, he said.