By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

He filed to run himself.

"I believe, without a challenge for the position, that democracy suffers," Ellison said. "If the people don't have a choice of having to pick somebody who hasn't already and currently isn't in the seat, the person who is currently elected can become complacent."

It was Smith's support of the federal economic stimulus package that propelled Ellison into the race. Ellison believes banks that made bad mortgage loans should renegotiate those loans rather than rely on a federal bailout.

"I'm running on the money he voted to give me," Ellison said of Smith.

To make a change in the status quo of government takes a commitment from the people from himself, he concluded.

"My interest in seeing a change in Washington" is what Ellison said prompted him to run. "In general, I feel this country isn't going in a direction that I think is good for the future of our children."

He wants change for the economy and thinks there has been a lack of effort put into creating a secure border.

Although studying federal election rules has prevented him from having the time to formulate positions on numerous federal topics, the Republican Ellison does know that he wants to end the federal income tax, abolish the Federal Education Department and wants to begin a withdrawal of troops from Iraq in one year.

By cutting or reducing the income tax, he hopes more private money will be available for charity, thus reducing the need for welfare.

Ellison said he wants to be involved in law-making because that's where the country is running into the most trouble. He looked into a run for the state Legislature, but found the $12,000 annual salary prohibitive.

He has supported others he believes could change the status quo. He contributed more than $2,200 to the Ron Paul presidential campaign and expects he may pick up some political support there.

Ellison is a computer programmer for farm software company J.C. Doyle in Grand Island. He was homeschooled, attends a Hebrew-oriented assembly, is married and has a 1-year-old daughter.

Ellison is building his own Web site, www.jeremiahellison2008.com, and expects to have position statements posted there in about a week.

"We're still trying to get organized," Ellison said. "This was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision."

His family is helping him run his campaign, to which he dedicates about three hours a day.

"I'm kind of running a faith-based campaign at the moment. I don't know where that may take us, but I figure sitting on my butt and not doing anything wasn't helping move the country in the direction I'd like to see it move," Ellison said.