We're now hearing from the candidate running against Congressman Bill Flores for District 17.

In his first interview after entering the race at the Friday deadline to file, Austin-area resident George W. Hindman talked News 3 about his campaign.

"I look forward to running a positive campaign on issues important to the voters of District 17," he said.

It's Hindman's first political campaign, in fact. He's now reaching out for votes, where for years, he says he's helped people reach for the stars as an astronaut instructor at NASA. The 45-year-old says he's now a small business owner, engineer and inventor working on projects for the space agency.

"I plan on fighting for ways to promote economic growth and job opportunities in both Texas and America, while at the same time limiting the scope of the federal government and our national debt."

At NASA, he says was a Harris County resident who helped with Republican efforts, including the 1992 national GOP convention in Houston and various campaigns.

But Hindman says he's lived in Travis County for more than 20 years. The redrawn District 17 now reaches there. Though he says he doesn't live in the district, Hindman says he did live within its current limits for years.

After considering a run for office a decade ago during the last redistricting in Texas (including forming a steering committee during his consideration), he's now jumping in, and against an incumbent Republican.

"I hope that my opponent joins me in a pledge to avoid the negative approach we have witnessed at the national level in order to give the district the positive representation they deserve," Hindman said.

For his part, Rep. Flores told News 3 he planned on running a high quality campaign to try and earn a second term in Congress.

Hindman says he'll talk more about his platform and the differences he sees between himself and the incumbent as his campaign gets going the coming days and weeks.

The Republican primary is May 29.

There are no Democrats running for the District 17 seat.