A local businessman announced Friday his intention to enter the race for the state House District 25 seat vacated by James Mills.

Todd Reed joins Gainesville lawyer Sonny Sykes, Bobby Banks, who represented South Hall on the Hall County Board of Commissioners, and Flowery Branch City Councilman Kris Yardley as potential candidates.

"Legislators need to understand that the private sector creates jobs and not the government," said Reed, of Oakwood, in a news release. "I feel that my experience staying within hundreds of construction budgets over the years will help find places in the state budget to save the taxpayers of Georgia."

Reed has been an architectural designer and in the building industry for 20 years.

Qualifying for the special election set for Nov. 8 is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

Candidates must qualify in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State, 802 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta. The fee is $400.

There will be no party primaries, though party affiliation will be listed on the ballot. If needed, runoff elections would be held Dec. 6.

Citizens must be registered to vote by Oct. 11 to participate in the Nov. 8 special election.

Voter registration forms can be obtained at any county registrar's office or from the secretary of state's website.

There are two other open Northeast Georgia seats in the state legislature: state Senate District 50 and state House District 10.

Senate District 50 covers Banks, Habersham, Towns and a small eastern portion of White County.

House District 10 covers Habersham County and a southeastern portion of White County.

House District 25 covers part of South Hall.