Posted: Saturday, March 6, 2010 10:11 am

A Smyrna county commissioner has qualified to run for the 49th District state representative seat, setting up a possible race with incumbent Kent Colemon.

Mike Sparks, who represents Smyrna as the District 11 commissioner on the County Commission, qualified to run Friday with the Rutherford County Election Commission.

He said he hopes to bring "another conservative voice" to the state legislature.

Sparks, a businessman, has served eight years on the commission and is also a member of the Smyrna Planning Commission.

Coleman, who was elected in 2002, has picked up papers to seek re-election but has not filed as yet. Deadline is April 1.