Plyler ran unsuccessfully for the 1998 GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, losing to Lauch Faircloth.

He said he learned a lot from that race but acknowledged he won’t spend much money in his congressional campaign.

“I will try to make up the difference by giving some common sense solutions to important issues,” Plyler said. “My approach toward government and elections will certainly by quite different from most.”

Plyler visited Rowan County Tuesday wearing a patriotic, red-white-and-blue jacket, shirt and cap — a combination that will be part of his normal campaign attire, Plyler promised.

“I consider myself an ordinary person,” he said. “Therefore, I have the understanding of the ordinary people’s needs.”

Plyler said above all, his campaign’s theme will be “America First.”

“It seems our needs for America have been shifted to second, while needs elsewhere in the world are a priority,” he said.

Plyler tried to launch a write-in campaign for the 8th District congressional seat in 1996, but described that effort as “impossible.”

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, D-Charlotte, holds the 12th District seat, whose boundaries are again under the legal microscope of a federal appeals court.

Other potential candidates are thought to be waiting to file until they see what federal judges say about the boundaries.

The current district includes all of Rowan County and portions of Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Davidson and Iredell counties.

Plyler said many voters complain about immigrants being allowed to work here free for long periods of time without paying income tax.

“I’m certainly for fair taxes, and that’s not fair,” he said.

Plyler said he has “no bones to pick” with Watt personally and said he isn’t aiming to be controversial.

“I’ll win it on issues,” Plyler said.

A native of Iredell County, Plyler, 68, is married and has four children and two grandchildren. He raises beef cattle on his family farm.

Plyler supports term limits: two terms for U.S. House members and one term for U.S. senators.

Plyler says Americans should only have to fill out an income tax return if they make $20,000 a year or more.

He supports a voucher system for schools and opposes all gun control laws.

Steele, 51, of 692 Williamsburg Court, filed Tuesday at the Cabarrus County Board of Elections. He is the fourth candidate to file.

Steele could not be reached this morning at this home.

Three Republicans have already filed. They are incumbent Sue Casper and challengers Randy Wiggins and Mark Martin.