Former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith has announced she formed an exploratory committee to consider jumping into the 5th Congressional District race.

Bitter Smith issued a statement blasting the district’s current representative, Democrat U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, for failing to deliver on campaign promises to reform immigration law, balance the budget and end the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

“Predictably, nothing has happened on those fronts, except an increase in deficit spending, said Bitter Smith, the president of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors.

With her announcement, Bitter Smith becomes the fifth Republican to consider campaigning to unseat Mitchell, who defeated long-term GOP incumbent J.D. Hayworth in 2006.

Others include Arizona Corporation Commission Jeff Hatch-Miller, former state representative Laura Knaperek, former Maricopa County treasurer David Schweikert, state Rep. Mark Anderson and attorney Jim Ogsbury.

The primary election will be held Sept. 2.

Seth Scott, a spokesman for Mitchell, said the congressman was “very proud” of ethics reform, the implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the raising of minimum wage, cuts to the cost of student loans and improved services to veterans.

“It would be a very dangerous thing to return to the old status quo,” Scott said.

The Arizona Capitol Times conducted a brief interview with Bitter Smith. The questions and answers are listed below:

Susan Bitter Smith, on what qualities she will bring to the race, should she decide to run:

“Certainly, I have lived all my life in Arizona. I am very versed in some of the most important issues that impact the future Congressional District 5, including water policy, growth issues, and certainly the combinations of immigration reform and tax policy.”

What advantages will your lobbying experience and city council experience give you?

“I certainly know the district well. I represented the district both as a city council person and as a member of the Central Arizona Project Board. I’m also on a school board within the district, so I believe I have a good, broad base of experience on important issues. Clearly, my understanding of the governmental process would be useful in making things happen in Washington.”

If there’s one thing you would like to change in Washington, what would that be?

“Clearly, responsiveness to constituent needs, because most of the time we have lots of great talk but not a lot of good action.”