Former Assemblyman and State Senator Sam Aanestad said this morning he has not yet made an announcement as to whether he will run for Congress.

Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) told The Union Tuesday he was considering entering the race for the District 1 Congressional seat to be vacated by the retiring Wally Herger.

“I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to say yes or no,” Aanestad said this morning. “I'm having a meeting with supporters on Sunday afternoon and I should be closer to making a decision after that.”

If he elects to enter the race, Aanestad would likely square off with a familiar face in the June 5 primary, as State Sen. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) has already announced his intention to run for the seat vacated by the retirement of Herger (R-Chico). LaMalfa actually succeeded Aanestad as District 3 senator.

Aanestad, a Grass Valley oral surgeon, served a combined 12 years in the state Assembly and Senate prior to returning to his practice last year.

Aanestad was one of six candidates who ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2010, which was won by Abel Maldonado, who went on to lose to former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in the general election.