CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Robin Smith launched her campaign for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District seat this morning.

Ms. Smith scheduled stops in each of the 11 counties of the 3rd District and said she will file the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to qualify as a candidate for the seat now held by Zach Wamp. Rep. Wamp is running for governor in 2010.

Ms. Smith kicked off her district tour in Copperhill early this morning, then stopped to talk to breakfast customers at the Old Fort Inn here.

Ms. Smith addressed a variety of issues including:

“Reckless federal spending at a deficit pace we have never seen before ...

“Health care reform that doesn’t endanger the doctor-patient relationship ...

“Energy exploration here in the United States. ... Not just being devoted to renewal sources, which are very important, but having exploration here.”

“We should be leaders of the free world, not just sit at the table as another global citizen,” she said.

District issues, she said, include continuing the pace of industrial development.

“My goal will be very simple, make things happen for the 3rd District for the citizens who want to have good-paying jobs,” she said.

Ms. Smith, a Hixson resident, is a former Wamp staff person and most recently was chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. She joins a field of other candidate.

The Republican hopefuls include Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble and Cleveland businessman Art Rhodes, Chattanooga attorney Chuck Fleischmann and Chattanooga engineer Tommy Crangle.

Democratic candidates include former Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Paula Flowers, of Oak Ridge, and Chattanooga computer systems analyst Brent Benedict.

See Thursday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.