Shortly after Coeur d'Alene Sen. Jim Hammond announced his plans not to run for re-election on Thursday, Rep. Bob Nonini declared the same day that he will campaign for Hammond's seat instead.

"I wanted to get it out there. I've been thinking about it and talking to Sen. Hammond for weeks," said Nonini, who has won four elections and served eight years in the state House.

After six years as chair of the House Education Committee, Nonini said, he felt it was time to move forward and let another House member take on that role.

"If I'm successful running for Senate, I'll give up my seniority, obviously, but I just think it's the natural progression for me," the Coeur d'Alene Republican said. "I think I could do a good job over there."

Nonini, who was instrumental in last year's bill speeding up the construction of the Kootenai Technical Education Campus high school, said he would continue focusing on education reform in the other legislative arm.

He is confident his past successes will garner support for his campaign, like his sponsorship of legislation creating the Idaho Education Network, connecting high-speed broad band capabilities to Idaho schools.

"The Idaho Education Network is one of the things I'm the most proud of," Nonini said.

He was also involved in creating legislation for Students Come First, which includes online learning options, providing classroom laptops and establishing pay-for-performance for teachers.

"It was not easy legislation, it was controversial," Nonini acknowledged. "I want to bring education systems into the 21st century and benefit children going forward."

The independent insurance broker also believes his career in the insurance industry makes him well suited for the continuing debate about health care, he said.

He hopes to pursue market-based, private industry solutions, he added.

"We don't need government dictating health care policy," he said.

Nonini is married with a grown step daughter.

He won't officially file his candidacy until the filing period begins on Feb. 27.

"I'm just excited about the challenges that lie ahead for me," he said. "I look at this as the next step in my political career."