Three Democrats say they will run for the congressional seat held by Rep. Parker Griffith, but a fourth says he probably will stay out of the race.

The three who announced on Tuesday for the 5th Congressional District race are political consultant Steve Raby and Huntsville

attorneys Taze Shepard and Mitchell J. Howie. The 51-year-old Raby was chief of staff to the late U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin. The 56-year-old Shepard is a grandson of the late Sen. John Sparkman. The 30-year-old Howie formerly was an attorney in the Judge Advocate General Corps in the Air Force.

David Blair, former president of the Huntsville school board, said he probably will not enter the race.

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