The first candidate to openly seek state Rep. Katie True's House seat has made it official.

Ryan Aument, 32, the county's clerk of courts, sent letters to Republican committee members Saturday informing them that he will seek their endorsement to replace True, who announced last month that she will retire.

Aument, a former U.S. Army captain who served in Iraq, is unlikely to be the only Republican who will seek to represent the 41st Legislative District, which includes the Hempfield area, Lancaster Township and part of Manor Township. Six Republicans were said to be considering a run last month.

Aument, of Farmington Place, Landisville, said he spent much of last month talking with his wife, friends and supporters before reaching his decision to run. He will spend much of the next few days canvassing committee members to seek their support.

The committees are slated to hold straw polls beginning Jan. 21. The county's endorsement convention is Feb. 16.

Aument said he felt called to public service following his return from a six-month combat deployment to Iraq in 2003 because some of those who served with him would not be returning.

"I feel an extra sense of responsibility to serve because they can't," Aument said. "That's what motivated me into public service in the first place. It's about serving people. It's about serving others, serving their interests and not serving self.

"I think there are a lot in politics generally and many in Harrisburg specifically who have mixed up the notion of service and often seem to be committed to serving themselves and being there for themselves, rather than serving those who sent them there," he said.

Aument said that if elected he would seek to reduce the regulatory and tax burdens on business. He said he feels those burdens have been pushing companies, jobs and families out of Pennsylvania.

Aument was elected to county office in 2007 but is familiar with state politics. In 2006, he was tapped by high school friend Bryan Cutler to run Cutler's successful campaign for the 100th House seat, then held by Gibson C. Armstrong. He then served as Cutler's chief of staff before being elected county clerk of courts.

True, 68, a Republican from East Hempfield Township, is serving her fourth two-year term in the 41st district seat. She announced last month she will retire when her current term ends in 2010. Previously, she had been the state representative from the 37th district.

The 41st District spans a broad swath of western Lancaster County, including East and West Hempfield and Lancaster townships, part of Manor Township, and East Petersburg and Mountville boroughs.

Although voter registration in the area is heavily Republican, county Democrats are also expected to field a candidate for next fall's election.

bharris@lnpnews.com