An Ohio County Democrat says he will challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan in the 2010 election.

R.J. Smith, a laid-off United Steelworkers union member, this week filed pre-candidacy papers with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office to seek the seat held by Mollohan, D-W.Va. Smith expects for them to be approved and his name listed in the race in the coming days.

Mollohan, 66, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982. He succeeded his father, former U.S. Rep. Robert Mollohan, D-W.Va.

"I realize it's an uphill battle," said Smith, 44, of Dallas, W.Va. "But we're under attack, and it's not just unions. Every day people are just trying to make a living, and there's so much (financial) burden on us. You have to think, how do we afford this?"

Smith made reference to government spending in recent months, the $787 billion government stimulus package and government's efforts to save Wall Street.

"It got to the point there just wasn't a choice," he said. "Wall Street had just run amuck."

Smith disputed reports by some banks that claimed they made profits this year.

"No they didn't," he said. "That's our money."

He lamented that those banks gave significant employee bonuses this year.

"That's our money," he repeated. "But it's business as usual in the House and Senate. They just sit on their hands. Something has to be done."

Smith also noted that America "needs health care reform, terribly."

He takes issue with Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer. The company doesn't provide health insurance to its employees, Smith pointed out. This needs to change, he said.

"It's just being responsible," Smith commented. "It's just common sense."

He thinks Republicans and Democrats need to come together on the issue for health care reform to be successful.

"If we all don't come together - and make Congress do the job we put them in for - it's going to get a lot worse," Smith said. "People forget we're a nation at war. We've become so numb to it."

Smith has been a resident of Ohio County for 22 years and previously lived in New York and Arizona. He most recently worked at the Bailey Mine in Claysville, Pa., before being laid off.

His wife, Beverly, is also a USW member, but she continues to have a job.

"I have nothing against Congressman Mollohan. I just think he is out of touch and that 28 years (in office) is too long. If it were up to me, it would be three years and go home.

"I'm just an everyday guy," he added. "I will give it my best shot, and all I can promise is honesty. That's what the people want, and that's the way it should be."

Thus far, there have been four other candidates filing in the race, and all are Republicans. They are Cindy Hall of Wheeling; Randy Smith of Terra Alta, W.Va.; Thomas Stark of Parkersburg, W.Va.; and Daniel Scott Swisher of Washington, W.Va.