Former pilot to run for US congressional seat

Jonathan George, a retired Air Force brigadier general, formally announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Indiana’s 9th  Congressional District last week.

George served as an Air Force U-2 spy plane pilot during the Cold War and went on to serve as an advisor in the presidential administrations of presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

He also served as an assistant to the United States Secretary of Agriculture for Reagan. He was appointed as a member of the National Security Council’s staff by Obama. He has received several military awards, including the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

From 2007 to 2009, George served in several positions responsible for overseeing the training of soldiers in the war in Afghanistan.

George earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and education from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 1979. He later received a master’s in public administration from Harvard University in 1990.

George is a native of Lawrence County, which contains Bedford, Ind., and his family has roots there that date back to the 1800s, his official biography indicates.

George said in a press release he wanted to fight for the interests of southern Indiana residents by putting partisan bickering aside.

“Too many politicians in Congress are hiding in Washington and not putting the interest of their citizens first,” George said. “Southern Indiana needs a statesman who stands for common-sense Indiana values and who can effectively fight for these values in negotiations.”

“We don’t need more politicians who only support the party line and produce gridlock.”
George described himself as deeply frustrated by “Washington’s inability to set priorities and the tragic decline in regional economic statistics.”

George said he considers himself a non-partisan leader who will look at both sides of an issue.

“Hoosiers want representation that brings Indiana common sense to Washington. That means solving problems, not playing party politics with the nation’s
future,” he said.