A Smithville alderman has picked up a petition to qualify to seek the Democrat nomination for 40th District state representative in August.

Gayla Hendrix will run for the seat currently occupied by incumbent Republican Terri Lynn Weaver, who will be seeking her party’s nomination in August as well.

A DeKalb County native, Hendrix graduated from DCHS and earned a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree in education from MTSU, an Education Specialist degree Tennessee Tech University and a degree from the Nashville School of Law. She is a local attorney and former teacher in DeKalb County. She and her husband Farron have three children.

Hendrix previously ran for the Democratic nomination for state representative in 2008. She was elected to the Smithville board of aldermen three years later, served one term, and was elected again in 2104.

The DeKalb County Democratic Party held its Mass Meeting Saturday at the DCHS cafeteria.

Hendrix joins fellow Democrat Amelia Hipps of Lebanon, who will seek to win the 46th District State Representative seat now held by Republican Mark Pody, also of Lebanon in August. Pody is seeking reelection to the position as well.

The winners of the August primaries will face off in the November General Election.

The qualifying deadline for both races is April 7.