Ron Cohen, a Republican from Fremont, becomes
the third candidate in the CA17 June primary.

ELECTION16 | Ron Cohen, a Fremont certified public accountant, is the first Republican to join the highly-anticipated Seventeenth Congressional District rematch between Democrats Rep. Mike Honda and Ro Khanna.

Before becoming a partner at Fremont’s Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP, Cohen’s biography includes a long-ago stint as a standup comic in Chicago.

“However, after observing that the vast majority of comedians have a very low taxable income, Ron decided to follow his father’s example and become a CPA,” says his bio.

With reports of a pending investigation into ethics allegations against Honda likely to dominate the June primary, Cohen’s background might bring needed comic relief to the race.

But, in a sign Cohen’s work bio has not been updated recently, it lists receiving “personal advice and coaching from Bill Cosby.” Presumably for his comic timing and not the other thing. (h/t @LetsEat5)

Over the past year, Cosby has been inundated with allegations he drugged and sexually assaulted more than four dozen women over the years.

Cohen also teaches business courses at Ohlone Community College. The declaration of his candidacy was received Nov. 9.

The lone Republican thus far in the race, has some antecedents to the 2014 election. Last year, Joel VanLandingham, also a Republican political novice, failed to gather much support in the primary, but his performance at a candidate forum in Fremont drew rave reviews and his Twitter feed often hilariously tweaked Honda.

Another Republican, former South Bay Rep. Ernie Konnyu also provided comic relief in last year’s race, infamously tweeting days before the November 2014 Election Day, “You[‘re] going down Tuesday…Go to political hell! Go Ro!”

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