Former state Rep. Susan Bitter Smith is taking a second swing at the 5th district seat.

“It is official! I have filed and we are off and running! I look forward to your help and support during this campaign season,” she announced on her Facebook page.

Bitter Smith, who lost out to former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert in a nasty Republican primary in 2008, has filed the paperwork to form a 2010 Congressional campaign committee.

A lobbyist and executive director at Arizona-New Mexico Cable Communications Association, she will again face Schweikert in the 2010 primary, though they’ll have company.

Venture capitalist Jim Ward, businessman Eric Wnuck and doctor Chris Salvino have all announced their candidacies as well.

Rep. Harry Mitchell (D) is vulnerable in the Republican-leaning district, but another long, bloody GOP primary like the one in 2008 could again give him the edge. Mitchell also has a healthy bank account — $766,000 in cash on hand at the end of 2009.