An aide to ex-Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore who qualified Monday with the state GOP for a congressional seat based in Montgomery and the Wiregrass region said he is running on "safety, prosperity and morality," adding that the district doesn't need a "career politician" - a swipe at his primary Republican rival, incumbent Rep. Martha Roby.

Rich Hobson, who managed Moore's special election campaign for U.S. Senate, said in Hoover that Washington is still plagued by special interests, "remnants of the Obama administration" and "weak-kneed Republicans ... who make up the swamp."

"The problems of last year, unfortunately, they still remain," Hobson said. "I want to make sure that we preserve a safe, a prosperous and a moral America for our children and grandchildren."

The race between Roby, Hobson and state Rep. Barry Moore is arguably the most hotly contested House races in Alabama. Meanwhile, national Democrats also have their eyes on capturing the seat.

Hobson, who was Alabama's administrator of courts during Moore's two stints on the bench and also worked for Moore's Foundation for Moral Law, said he's distinguished himself from Roby and the third GOP contender in the race - state Rep. Barry Moore - by being the only candidate to sign a term limits pledge.

"I don't want to be the career politician. I want to be the citizen legislator that our forefathers asked for and planned for. [Roby's] been there a long time. I know that I back up the president, I support the president and I will continue to do that," Hobson said. "[Her] effectiveness is worn out and we need folks who will get in there and back up our president and his great agenda."

A spokeswoman for Roby's campaign disputed that characterization in a statement.

"Rep. Roby has supported President Trump and our unified Republican government's agenda to deliver the results Americans deserve," the spokeswoman told AL.com. "From supporting the pro-growth tax reform plan and funding for construction of a border wall to working to rebuild our military and properly care for our veterans, she has worked every day to advance the conservative agenda in Washington. "

The spokeswoman said Roby's seniority in the House better positions her to fight for her constituents.

Hobson said he would push for lower taxes offset by eliminating the IRS and the U.S. Department of Education. He said the Trump tax plan was a good start.

"I'm proud of that, but while we're going around slapping ourselves on the back and [being] happy about it, we need to remember that this is our money anyway," Hobson said, adding that he advocates a simple consumption tax in lieu of the IRS.

On morality, Hobson said he has "paid the price" for sticking up for his values, referring to the two times Moore was removed from the bench over the Ten Commandments statue and defying the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage.

"I've been tested through the fire," he said. "I've lost a job twice."

Hobson said that Moore would appear with him as he campaigns for the House seat.

"He'll be supporting me, and I welcome his support and I'm thankful for his friendship," he said. "I'll see him on the trail. I look forward to seeing Judge Moore out there."

Hobson officially announced his candidacy for the seat earlier this month.