Alabama state Rep. Earl Hilliard Jr. of Birmingham says he will seek the 7th District congressional seat once held by his father.

The 39-year-old Hilliard scheduled an event for Monday in downtown Birmingham to kick off his campaign for the Democratic nomination. The first-term state representative is an attorney and independent film producer.

Hilliard is the son of former congressman Earl Hilliard, who served five terms in Washington after being elected as Alabama’s first black member of Congress since Reconstruction.

The elder Hilliard was ousted by Rep. Artur Davis, who is giving up the congressional seat as he seeks the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010.