A Custer man says he will join the race for the U.S. House seat now held by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.

B. Thomas Marking said in a news release that he will run as an independent in 2010 and bring a perspective free from divisive partisanship to the congressional campaign.

The North Dakota native, who worked for the federal government for 28 years and added three years with state government in South Dakota, is "urgently seeking funding and staff support" for his campaign, according to the news release.