From a press release out this morning:

Today, Calhoun businessman Zach Dasher announced that he will run for Congress in Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional District.

“It is time for ordinary citizens to get off of the sidelines and get involved in the political system,” Dasher said. “For too long, we’ve set idly by while Washington politicians slowly gain control over every aspect of our lives. I am seeking to represent the people of the 5th District in Congress so that I can effectively fight the big government intellectual elitists in Washington,” he said.

Dasher, a Republican, has a background in the pharmaceutical industry. He also has been involved in the real estate business and with fundraising for non-profit organizations. This is Zach Dasher’s first time to run for public office.

Zach and his wife of 13 years, Jil, have four children. Zach is the son of Gordon Dasher and Jan Robertson Dasher of West Monroe. Zach’s mom is the sister of “Duck Commander” Phil Robertson.

The Dashers are members of White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ and are active in campus ministry at ULM with University Church of Christ.

“Man is made in the image of the Almighty God. If we are afraid to say that, then we don’t have a case for liberty. Our rights do not come from a bunch of elite politicians in Washington, D.C. They come from the Almighty God,” Dasher said.

“We did not send people to Washington to determine our rights. We sent them there to defend our rights, but that’s not what they’re doing,” he said. “They’re taking them away, day by day. They’re forcing us to purchase their healthcare insurance because they think they know better than we do when it comes to managing our private lives,” Dasher said.

“There are many third and fourth generation farmers in the Fifth District. The EPA believes it knows how to run our farms better than local farmers. The federal government is trying to control every patch of farmland in Louisiana that has a ditch or a puddle. This nonsense must stop, and I’m going to lead the fight against it in Washington,” Dasher said.

Dasher is pro-life and is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. He favors adoption of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, an overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a strong U.S. military.

Dasher supports market based solutions to healthcare reform and a tax code that doesn’t punish achievement.

The election for Congress occurs on November 4th. Louisiana’s Fifth District covers most of Northeast and Central Louisiana and stretches to Opelousas and Bogalusa in South Louisiana.

The field for LA-5 is not set by any means at this time. Dasher’s entry into the race puts him in the pool with Monroe businessman Harris Brown and former Grant Parish district attorney Ed Tarpley, both of whom are known as relatively staunch conservative Republicans.

Disgraced incumbent Vance McAllister is quietly making noises about reversing course and running for re-election, though McAllister is perhaps the least likely candidate to win. Meanwhile, Monroe mayor Jamie Mayo is likely to run on the Democrat side.

The real question, which hasn’t been answered yet, is whether last year’s second-place finisher and state senator Neil Riser (R-Columbia), who was blown out 60-40 by McAllister but who polls say would return the favor in a head-to-head race should there be a runoff this year, will get in. If Riser doesn’t, there are rumors Riser’s senate colleague Mike Walsworth (R-West Monroe) might jump in.

Either way, we’re going to find out whether the Duck Dynasty brand still carries political weight in the 5th District. Dasher is a blood relative of the Robertsons, not just a friend of the family; he’ll get their support. Will McAllister’s hopes collapse without being the Duck Dynasty candidate? Does it even matter anymore?