Chad Behn, son of State Sen. Jerry Behn, R-Boone, announced on Monday that he will seek election for Iowa Senate District 24, a seat which is currently held by the senior Behn.

Jerry Behn, a six-term state senator, had announced on Friday that he plans to retire when his current term expires at the end of this year.

“Living and farming in this area for many years, I know what rural communities have to offer and know what they need to grow,” Chad Behn said in his candidacy announcement. “My goal in the Iowa Senate will be to fight for smaller government, job growth and ensuring our communities have what they need to prosper and succeed.”

Chad Behn grew up in Boone, graduating from Boone High School in 1996. After high school, he attended Des Moines Area Community College and Presentation College in South Dakota, graduating in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He has farmed row crops full time for more than 18 years.

In 2016, Chad Behn was elected a Boone County supervisor and is a member of the Central Iowa Community Services Mental Health Board, the Emergency Management Association Board, 911 Board and the Farm Bureau.

Chad Behn currently lives in Boone and has two sons.

Jerry Behn was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1996. His Senate district includes Boone, Greene and Hamilton counties, as well as southeastern Webster County.