LaGRANGE — A local, retired state representative may throw his hat into the ring for U.S. Congress.

Former state Rep. Jeff Brown of LaGrange announced early Friday through a press release that he is forming an exploratory committee to help him decide whether he will announce as a candidate for the Third Congressional District seat. The seat is currently held by Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who announced he would not run for re-election this year.

“I served with (Westmoreland) in the Georgia House of Representatives for eight years, count him as a good friend, appreciate how he serves the Third Congressional District and agree with most of his votes,” Brown said in a written statement.

During his 12 years as a legislator, Brown represented precincts in Carroll, Coweta, Heard and Troup counties — all in the third district, according to a press release. During his last term, Brown served as chairman of the health appropriations subcommittee and on the ways and means, rules and health and ecology committees. He left the state legislature in 2006.

Prior to his time in the legislature he served as a LaGrange City Councilman and was the first Republican elected to council and the Georgia House of Representatives from Troup County, he stated.

Brown describes himself as a conservative Christian and said he would focus on the lack of secure borders that he said jeopardize national security, cutting expenses and tax loop holes to reduce the $19 trillion debt and fixing foreign policy.

He has worked as a business manager for Milliken and Company in LaGrange and founded the business Comprehensive Search, which he sold in late 2012. Since then he has been a real-estate investor and regularly writes an opinion column for LaGrange Daily News.

Brown is married to Shirley Scott Brown. They have a son, Greg, who is a Troup County deputy sheriff, daughter-in-law Anna Matheny Brown and a grandson, Gregory “Bo” Scott Brown. They lost their younger son Eric in an automobile accident.

He worships at First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange.

Brown will hold a conference call Thursday for anyone seeking to ask questions. Anyone interested in participating may send a message to jeffwarnerbrown@gmail.com.