CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Two announced candidates for the 3rd Congressional District seat will be special guests July 18 when the Bradley County Democratic Party holds its first Heritage Dinner in three years.

County party Chairman George Patton said the governor's office and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp's seat are open races next year. Gov. Phil Bredesen can't serve more than two terms, and Rep. Wamp is running for the seat.

Mr. Patton said 3rd District Democratic candidates Paula Flowers, of Oak Ridge, and Brent Benedict, of Chattanooga, have committed to attend the Heritage Dinner.

Ms. Flowers served from 2003 to 2007 as Tennessee's commissioner of commerce and insurance under Gov. Bredesen. She lives in Oak Ridge with her husband and their three sons.

"I will fight for a fiscally responsible government that brings good jobs to Tennessee, grows our clean energy sector and improves access to affordable health care," Ms. Flowers said in a statement.

Mr. Benedict won the Democratic nomination for the 3rd District two years ago but lost to incumbent Rep. Wamp. Mr. Benedict attended Andrews University, where he graduated with majors in electrical engineering and business. After graduation he did mission work in Asia. He returned to the United States in 1995 and settled in Chattanooga.

Gubernatorial candidate Ward Cammack and Bradley County sheriff candidate Steve Lawson are also expected to attend, Mr. Patton said.

The dinner also will include a photo history of well-known local Democrats from past years.

"I have seen a hundred or so of the pictures, and it shows a rich history of Democrats in Bradley County," Mr. Patton said. "Bradley County, not so many years ago, had numerous Democratic elected officials, which included about half of the countywide elected offices."