It's the need to attract more jobs that has convinced the 68-year-old Republican to run for county commissioner.

"I see a definite need on the commission to have someone who is pro-business," Henderson said. "We really need to go out and bring businesses to our community. If we don't, we will just wither away on the vine."

Helping the small business owner is important to Henderson.

"We have to help the small businesses that are already here, by offering tax incentives and special benefits for businesses starting up," he said.

Henderson worked as an account manager with Sears for 21 years before retiring in 1992. He now works three days a week for Allied Restoration in Columbia.

Henderson has lived in the county for two and half years after moving from Anne Arundel County. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, in Spring Ridge. They have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Treasurer of the Monocacy Pistol Club, Henderson also serves as president of the Spring Ridge Hampton Court Condo Association.

In the past, he has served in several organizations, including as vice president of Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs for three years and as a member of the United Steelworkers of America Local 4599 and the Anne Arundel County Task Force for Affordable Housing.

Henderson is not new to the political arena.

In 1990, he ran unsuccessfully for the Anne Arundel County Council, losing by 600 votes.

Business is not Henderson's only area of concern.

During the campaign he will also concentrate his efforts on improving education and protecting the environment.

"The best thing we can do for our children is offer them the best education and secondly a clean environment," Henderson said. "When elected, I will bring increased pressure on the appropriate agencies to strongly enforce, reform and strengthen the current laws protecting our environment."

Henderson has been keeping a close eye on the issue of zoning in the county.

"I will demand that citizen input be part of the planning and zoning process, up to and including referendum when warranted," he said.

Henderson said he has not joined Defenders of Citizens' Rights Inc., a group of local landowners that formed last summer because they felt threatened by the county's down-zoning of their properties, but he will be speaking with their president, Walter Mills.

He has strong concerns over the down-zoning issue.

"Down-zoning is the confiscation of property," he said. "I feel so strongly about that."

When Henderson considers the job of county commissioner, he looks at it as a part-time position. He questions why some on the current board need to do the job full time.

"I could do the job on a full-time basis, but I don't think it's required," he said. "I think they make work for themselves. You just have to work smarter, not harder."

Henderson is the second Republican to announce a bid for a four-year term as one of five at-large commissioners. John Lovell made his bid official last summer.

The Democratic candidates include Fern Hines, Richard Floyd and Karan R.K. Henley.

The primary election is set for Sept. 10. The general election is Nov. 5.