A former teacher at the Parkland, Florida high school where 17 people were murdered in 2018, is kicking off his bid for the seat now held by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the South Florida SunSentiinel is reporting.

Richard Mendelson, a Republican, graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas high and later went on to teach social studies and coach wrestling at the school. One of his closest friends, assistant football coach Aaron Feis, was killed in the school massacre. Feis was shot to death while shielding students from bullets.

“When people think of what’s wrong with government, nationwide many people think of Debbie Wasserman Schultz,” he said told the newspaper “We have a representative who has unfortunately demonstrated poor leadership and poor decision making. ... It seems she has forgotten that her job is to be a representative of the people.”

And Mendelson said more gun restrictions won’t end violent acts.

“People are very quick to point a figure at an inanimate object because it gives them an opportunity not to point the finger at themselves,” he said.