A West Des Moines businessman has started a campaign for Iowa’s third congressional district.

Mike Sherzan announced Monday that he is filing the necessary paperwork to get his name on the ballot.  The Democrat is the first candidate to declare his intent to seek the seat, currently held by five-term Republican Congressman Tom Latham who announced last month that he will not seek another term.

Sherzan is the president and chief executive officer of Broker Dealer Financial Services.  He is a University of Iowa graduate and has worked in the financial industry for more than 35 years.

Sherzan says his parents taught him the importance of hard work, opportunity and community and that’s what Iowa has always been about.  “Everyone deserves a fair shot at the American Dream” says Sherzan and “somewhere along the way, too many people in Washington have forgotten that.

He says he looks forward to meeting with people all across the state and working together to break through the old Washington ways together.