Former State Transportation Board chairman Mike Evans has become the first announced candidate to succeed Nathan Deal in Congress.

Evans, who served four terms in the Georgia House, said he is running to protect homeowners, retirement funds and small businesses from what he calls "Obama liberalism."

"From job losses to stock losses to the housing market, these are difficult times for everyone," Evans said in a statement. "This decline will likely get much worse because of the dangerously radical agenda of President (Barack) Obama and Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi. I’m running for Congress to take a stand for the values North Georgians embrace and the values that have made our country great."

Evans is married to former Department of Transportation Commissioner Gena Evans. He stepped down from the transportation board last year when he announced that the two were dating. They were married last summer.

He now represents the 9th District on the State Board of Community Affairs and served as district chairman for the John McCain campaign for president in 2008.

The Evanses live in Forsyth County, where he is a real estate investor.

They have three children, one from her previous marriage and two from his.