A full-time paramedic is challenging an incumbent who has held the office for more than 15 years.

“It’s a Davis versus Goliath battle,” said Robert Owsiak Jr., who is challenging Bob Latta for the Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District seat in the United States House of Representatives

The two men couldn’t be more different.

Latta has represented Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District since 2007.

Owsiak has never held public office and was never into politics until he watched a House committee hearing.

Latta’s PAC has $1.2 million on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Owsiak’s campaign falls below the $5,000 filing threshold. His campaign has been on social media and word of mouth.

Owsiak said challenging Latta has been tough as he doesn’t have the political connections or funding of his opponent.

Owsiak is a father of four and has been a full-time paramedic in Lorain County for almost 19 years.

“I complain about the government enough,” he said. “I should do something to make a change.”

His goal is to make things better for average citizens like himself.

While Owsiak said he doesn’t believe Latta has done a horrible job, “he’s been there a long time, and I don’t think politics should be a career.”

He supports new eyes, new ideas and term limits.

“You have people who are up there in age who are not familiar with the technology I grew up with …” Owsiak said.

The single dad said if he is elected, he’ll live in Washington, D.C., during the week and commute home to Sheffield Lake for the weekend.

He would make sure he is available to his constituents.

“If you’re not accessible to the people, you’re not doing your job,” Owsiak said.

When asked about the criticism he gets on social media for not holding open houses, Latta responded he has met 140 constituents one on one.

“It gives the constituents an opportunity to have a one on one instead of a town hall where one person may dominate” the discussion, he said.

He said he meets with individuals for 10 minutes and “we find it very effective.”

Latta said he reviews every legislative article he receives because it’s important to know what his constituents are saying.

“For me, it’s important to be out” in the district, he said. “The only way I can do my job is out in the district.”

Latta, of Bowling Green, is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and is a member of the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security; and the Subcommittee on Health.

In 2013, he authored a law known as “Track and Trace” which helps prevent opioids from being diverted from the supply chain. Under the law, the Food and Drug Administration is directed to set up a system to follow prescription drugs through the supply chain in order to protect Americans against counterfeit and otherwise illegitimate drugs.

Latta is a 1974 Bowling Green High School graduate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowling Green State University and his law degree from the University of Toledo.

He said if reelected, he will work to lower the nation’s $35 trillion national debt.

“We have got to get this under control,” Latta said, and added it is unsustainable.

He said when he talks to people, the biggest concerns are economy and inflation followed by border policies.

Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District is comprised of all or part of 12 counties, including Lorain, Huran, Wyandot, Hancock, Wood, Henry, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert and Mercer.