Scottie Mayfield, the president of the dairy company that bears his name, said he'll challenge U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the 3rd Congressional District GOP primary.
"This is so young; I'm going to try to put together a little bit of organization and plan," Mayfield said in a voicemail left with a Times Free Press reporter. "I'll have a formal announcement in a week or so.
"I'm going to start talking to people and telling them I am in this race," he said.
Mayfield, 61, joins a crowded Republican field looking to unseat Fleischmann. The other GOP challengers are businessman Ron Bhalla, political science professor Jean Howard-Hill and businessman Weston Wamp, the 24-year-old son of former congressman Zach Wamp.
Mayfield lives on a family farm in McMinn County, which recently was redistricted into Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District.
Experts have said he won't have a problem with name recognition. Mayfield Dairy is well-known for its milk, ice cream and yellow trucks featuring an image of a cow's face.
Union County physician Mary Headrick and Chattanooga businessman Bill Taylor are the Democrats in the 3rd Congressional District race.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.