KENNEWICK, Wash. -- A political newcomer out of the Tri-Cities plans to announce a 2010 run at the 4th District congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco.

Jay Clough, D-Kennewick, is a 33-year-old former Marine who works for the Hanford cleanup company Washington Closure Hanford and has never held or even sought elected office before.

“I’m a novice to the game,” he said.

A Central Washington University graduate with degrees in Pacific Asian studies and Chinese language, Clough served in the Marines from 1995 to 1999, attaining the rank of corporal. He is married and has lived in China, Japan and Korea.

He declined to talk much about the issues during a telephone interview today, saying he would discuss those Monday during a pair of campaign kickoff press conferences, one at Columbia Park in Kennewick and the other at Millenium Plaza in Yakima. He did say expanding foreign markets for U.S. agriculture would be a priority.

Clough, who once ran a Web site called www.nextgenpolitics.com, said he would provide a younger perspective. He chose to aim for the U.S. Congress rather than starting with elected office at the local or state level because he believes that’s where he could have the greatest impact.

“With my international experience and my education, my desire was to serve my state and represent my state to the nation,” he said.

Hastings, who wrested control of the seat from Democrat Jay Inslee in the 1994 Republican Revolution, has never come close to losing it. He has taken at least 60 percent of the vote in every election since 1998 including a 63 percent to 37 percent win over Democrat George Fearing last year.

He has not formally announced a re-election bid, but is the Republican Party’s presumptive candidate in the 4th District.

- Pat Muir