Camp to challenge Gohmert for District 1

FRANK CAMP A Liberty City man is planning to challenge U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert for his District 1 Congressional seat.

Frank Guy Camp, 49, recently announced he will run for Congress as an Independent.

"The days of the two-party system are over," he said. "It's not working any longer."

As an Independent, Camp must have 500 signatures from registered voters who did not vote in the primary on a petition to get his name placed on the November ballot.

"In two days, I've gotten 675," he said. "There are over 700,00 people in the 1st Congressional District."

Camp noted that most Independents didn't start campaigning until after the March Primary.

"Under the elections code, Independents can't start collecting signatures until after the primary," he said. "So most of us have just started campaigning, although we had to meet the Dec. 31 filing deadline like other candidates."

Camp, 49, is a sixth-generation East Texan. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business and obtained teaching certification from LeTourneau University.

He is certified to teach government, history, economics, political science and sociology. He taught for a time in the Longview Independent School District.

Camp is currently an independent contractor, managing properties for HUD and FEMA. His company also contracts for oil and gas work.

He and wife have two grown sons.

Camp said he decided to run because "I'm tired of government not taking care of the people. We're faced with controversy and deficit spending and (we are) in dire need of change."

Camp said he is looking forward to "honorable" debates with his opponents.

Also challenging Gohmert is the Democratic contender, Roger L. Owen of Hallsville.

The First District of Texas includes Angelina County, Cass County, Gregg County, Harrison County, Marion County, Nacogdoches County, Panola County, Rusk County, Sabine County, San Augustine County, Shelby County, Smith County and Upshur County.