Updated: April 3, 2008 02:47 PM

Huntsville, AL - Wayne Parker, an insurance executive from Huntsville, AL will formally announce his candidacy for the 5th congressional seat in Alabama on Thursday, April 3, 2008 at noon at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. He will also announce that after little more than a week of fundraising his campaign will report over $170,000 cash on hand in the 1st quarter Federal Election Commission finance report to be filed this month.

"The tremendous support we have received is a great start for this campaign. People from all over the 5th district have encouraged me to run again for this seat, and I am looking forward to the campaign," Parker commented. "The financial success is important not just for preparing us for what will be an expensive campaign, but also shows the tremendous groundswell of support our campaign is generating."

Parker is familiar with the campaign trail since he was the Republican nominee for the 5th congressional seat in 1994 and 1996, coming within less 1% of winning the seat in 1994.

"We are seeing the tremendous grassroots support we had in previous campaigns coming together again to run this campaign. Having run before, and seeing all those supporters getting on board again is a tremendous advantage in a short primary campaign," Parker said.

Parker is a Vice President with Insurance Office of America (IOA) one of the ten largest privately-held property/ casualty insurance agencies in the US. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Auburn University and a Master of International Management from The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird).

Wayne is a fourth generation native of Huntsville and has been active in a number of volunteer efforts in the Huntsville community - serving on the board of the Lincoln Village Preservation Corporation, the Development Council of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and on the Session of Southwood Presbyterian Church.

He has coached numerous youth basketball teams for the Huntsville Eastern League and Huntsville International League. Wayne is married to the former Lisa Archer of Houston, Texas. Lisa is daughter of The Hon. Bill Archer who served in the US House of Representatives for thirty years and as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee from 1994 to 2000. Wayne and Lisa have four children ages 12 to 22 and reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

This article originally appeared on WAFF.com: link