THOMASVILLE — A Thomas County man who decided three years ago to seek the Second District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives announced his candidacy Thursday.

Bobby D. Brown, 58, will seek the seat, joining fellow Republican and Thomas countian Mike Keown in a primary contest. He considers his candidacy a calling.

“In my heart, it’s really what I need to do,” Brown told the Times-Enterprise.

The candidate said he has been considering seeking the seat since December 2006, upon completion of two terms on the Thomas County Commission.

“I feel like I need to do it right now,” said Brown, a forester and Georgia-licensed Realtor, about the congressional race.

Brown thinks the majority of Second District citizens are against the proposed national health care plan. “That’s certainly an issue,” he explained.

Brown thinks Sanford Bishop, incumbent Second District congressman, an Albany Democrat, has lost touch with the reality of the district.

“He’s been there too long,” Brown said.

The candidate is a member of First Baptist Church and a charter member of the Thomasville-Thomas County Recreation Board. He also has served on the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society Board of Directors and is a member of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce and several professional organizations.

Brown will begin campaigning and meeting Second District residents next week. “I enjoyed being a public servant to the citizens of Thomas County and would like to continue that service to all other counties in Southwest Georgia’s Second Congressional District — all the way to Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Brown said that if he is elected, he would be responsive to constituents and listen to their concerns.

“I would never turn away anyone who wanted to talk to me ,” he said. “I would never feel too important to talk to constituents.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820.