The crowded Democratic primary for the U.S. House seat in the 2nd Congressional District has swelled by one more, with Honolulu City Councilman Nestor Garcia announcing his candidacy yesterday.

Garcia, a champion for the general excise tax increase to help fund mass transit on O'ahu, hopes his willingness to take risks will set him apart from other candidates.

This candidacy presents no risk to his council seat. Like several other announced candidates, Garcia — whose district includes Waipahu, Mililani and Kunia — is in the middle of a four-year term and does not have to resign from the City Council to seek federal office.

Garcia, 49, was a member of the state House from 1994 to 2002. He won a two-year term to the council in 2002 and was re-elected in 2004. Before that, the former television journalist also spent two years in Washington, D.C., as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

"I ask the good people of the 2nd Congressional District to allow me to continue my public service, this time on a national scale, by returning me to Washington, D.C.," he said yesterday at a news conference in front of the federal courthouse.

Flanked by his wife, Karen, daughters and mother, Garcia said his desire to serve in Congress is in part fueled by wanting to help people in need, as his mother was helped by the government when he was a child.

He laid out other federal interests, as well, particularly the war in Iraq. "I am morally opposed to war," he said, noting that it would take better arguments than were given for him to support such action.

"The Bush administration has failed us in its leadership in this regard, relying on unreliable intelligence, in order to engage this country in a war so many miles away. I think when it comes to security we need to look at taking care of our own borders, as well," he said.

Garcia joins a large field of Democrats in the Sept. 23 primary, including several current and former elected officials: former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga; sitting Sens. Colleen Hanabusa, Clayton Hee, Gary Hooser and Ron Menor, all of whom are running from "safe" seats; and state Rep. Brian Schatz, who chose to run for federal office instead of seeking re-election in the House.

Former state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa and state Sen. Bob Hogue, who is vacating his seat, have announced their candidacies in the Republican primary.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.