This article originally appeared on April 19 on WHNT.com: link

Campaigning in north Alabama has officially started. Republican Congressional candidate Wayne Parker opened his office Saturday in Huntsville.

The Alabama native first announced he was running earlier this month.

"As you may know, this has been a fast and furious race so far, since Mr. Cramer announced his retirement five weeks ago, or six weeks ago," said Parker.

Parker ran against Rep. Bud Cramer in 1994, losing by only one percent of the vote. He hasn't been a candidate since 1996.

Parker says he has always centered his campaigns around a strong force of volunteers, and this year will be no different.

"Our campaigns in the past have been very voluntary and intensive, and I think that will be the case again this time," said Parker. "So, we want folks to come in and sign up. We've got computers and logging in so we can be paperless this time. You know, a lot has changed from 1994 to 2008."

Parker joins George Barry, Mark Huff, Cheryl Baswell Guthrie, Ray McKee and Angelo Mancuso on the Republican side. Dr. Parker Griffith and Dr. David Maker are running on the Democratic side.

Parker says he plans to run an active campaign, and says the Huntsville office can only help, believing his volunteers will be vital to his success.

The primary is June 3.