(ASHEVILLE) -- Asheville City Council member Cecil Bothwell will challenge incumbent U-S Representative Heath Shuler in the 2012 primary for the Democratic Party's nomination to the 11th Congressional District seat after all. Bothwell had originally announced in March he would run as an independent.

Bothwell said he changed his mind about running as a Democrat instead of an independent after hearing from many supporters, advisers, and party leaders, some of whom he said will support him.  "I might not be successful.  You don't win every election by any means, but I'll raise some issues that really matter and that people will see that I'm continuing to do the work on Council that I started to do and that I will continue to do right through this race," said Bothwell.

He added that he has taken exception to a number of Shuler's positions, including his failure to push for a public option for health care. Among the issues on Bothwell's platform are renegotiating NAFTA and CAFTA to protect workers and the environment, slashing military spending, providing universal health care and public education through college.

(Thanks to: WWNC)