Toccoa businessman Jon Heffer announced Monday that he will seek the Republican nomination for the open seat in State House District 28, which serves Stephens, Banks and Habersham counties.

The seat is open after Rep. Michael Harden resigned.

“I hope to share with the people of this district that I am a Christian. I am pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and pro-gun rights,” Heffer said. “... My focus is simple — recruit new industries, support small businesses, slash state spending and keep taxes low.”

Harden endorsed Heffer for the position.

Heffer graduated from Toccoa Falls College School of Communication in 1998. He has been employed at PTL Equipment since then, beginning as the manager of the sales and marketing department and later promoted to general manager before buying the elevator and escalator fixtures business in 2006.