McEwen: "Probably next week."

Former U.S. Rep. Bob McEwen accepted a new job at a Cincinnati law firm Tuesday, but he said in an interview he still plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt for the 2nd District seat this year.
McEwen, a Republican from Anderson Township, joined the Washington and Cincinnati law offices of Greenebaum, Doll & McDonald, where he will focus on governmental affairs, a release from the firm said.
“Bob’s vast experience as a public servant, both at the state and federal level, will greatly contribute to our already prominent government affairs practice,” said Ray Stewart, a firm representative from the Washington office.
Reached by phone, McEwen said he has worked with the firm before and he’ll be helping in its new Washington office.
The new job comes after McEwen accepted a position last month to lobby for Pasadena, Calif.-based Guidance Software. He also is a registered lobbyist with the Washington lobbying firm Advantage Associates.
McEwen has hinted that he’ll challenge Schmidt, R-Miami Township, in the GOP primary on May 2, although he has yet to officially declare that he’s running. He said Tuesday that “it won’t be long” before he makes the announcement.
“Not this week,” he said. “Probably next week.”
If he runs, McEwen said, he won’t step down from his new job.
“I would continue to meet whatever family and business obligations I have through the course of the campaign,” McEwen said.
McEwen came in second behind Schmidt in an 11-person GOP primary in June to replace former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, now the U.S. trade representative. The seven-county district runs from downtown Cincinnati east to Portsmouth.
Schmidt’s chief of staff, Barry Bennett, said the new congresswoman isn’t concerned about facing McEwen again, even after her much-criticized “Cowards cut and run, Marines never do,” statement on the House floor.
“We don’t’ fear him at all,” Bennett said. “This would be his fifth attempt to get back to Congress, all of which have been unsuccessful and underfunded. ... Jean will do just fine.”