Merriam's Scherer is candidate for Congress

Thomas Scherer, Merriam, just might be the Energizer Bunny of local politics when it comes to seeking the 3rd District congressional seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Dennis Moore, Lenexa.

Scherer, a self-described fiscal conservative, has been campaigning for the seat since 2004.

Scherer is one of four Republicans to have officially filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 3rd District U.S. House seat. The other three are Republicans Daniel Gilyeat, Patricia Lightner and John Rysavy.

Former State Sen. Nick Jordan, who lost to Moore in 2008, did not terminate his campaign committee and last week said he would again seek the Republican nomination to replace Moore.

Other Republicans still considering entering the race are: State Sen. Jeff Colyer; State Rep. Pat Colloton; State Rep. Kevin Yoder; State Rep. Scott Schwab; State Sen. Karin Brownlee; Overland Park attorney Greg Musil; and Johnson County Republican activist Charlotte O’Hara.

Scherer, 56 and a native Kansan, has been a civil rights activist, writer and statesman since 1994. He also has a background in database applications, was a national credit fraud investigator, and has worked with the Federal Civil Service and the Internal Revenue Service.

According to his blog site, http://schererforyourcongressman.blogspot.com/, Scherer wants to focus on solutions to issues rather than expound political rhetoric. He wants to make government more transparent and help the middle class by reducing what he calls progressive tax policies. He also is against PACs, special interest groups and their lobbyists dominating national politics and pushing for legislation that is adverse to the best interests of individual citizens.

According to his political biography, Scherer wants to reduce the scope and size of the federal government and stop what he calls the current move of Democratic-led socialism.

Some key issues for Scherer, according to his blog, are seeking changes to Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans’ claim processes are improved, and immediately bringing military personnel home from Iraq and Afghanistan and making sure returning soldiers have the right to return to the jobs they had before being deployed.

Scherer received a master of arts degree in computer resources and information management from Webster University; a bachelor’s degree from Park University; an associate’s degree from Highland Junior Community College; and completed one year of law school at Washburn University.

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