McEwen kicks $52,000 into his race

After loaning his campaign $50,000 in March and $1,000 last October, Bob McEwen dumped another $52,000 of his own money into his race for the 2nd Congressional District seat this week, according to a report just filed with the Federal Election Commission.

That brings the former congressman’s personal investment in his bid to defeat Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt in the May 2 GOP primary to $103,000.

And that’s on top of the $305,400 he loaned his campaign during last year’s special election for the seat. McEwen, who represented the neighboring 6th District in the House in the 1980s, came in second to Schmidt in last year's special.

Schmidt was $255,150 in debt after the special. She has since loaned her campaign $100,000 and repaid $143,000.

The Miami Township Republican plans to use more of her own money in the race, spokesman Barry Bennett said. He didn’t say how much.

Meanwhile, Schmidt’s campaign is investigating a $6,000 loan McEwen received last month from Richard Bryan, executive director of the Wellness Community in Cincinnati, Bennett said.

Under federal law, candidates can’t accept loans larger than the $2,100 individual contribution limit for the primary and general elections. That means the annual limit is $4,200 in contributions or loans for any one person.

McEwen campaign spokesman Michael Harlow didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.