FOXBORO - Jon W. Rockwood, 47, an attorney in the office of Foxboro's town counsel who is Walpole town moderator and has a background in national security work, plans to run for state senator in the Bristol and Norfolk district. The district includes Foxboro.

Rockwood has taken out nomination papers to run in the Republican primary election on Sept. 16.

State Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, who is serving his second two-year term in the Senate, previously announced plans to seek re-election and has taken out nomination papers for the Democratic primary.

Rockwood, of 15 Pelican Drive in Walpole, is a lawyer with the firm of Gelerman & Buschmann, town counsel for Foxboro and Sharon. He specializes in municipal and government law.

Rockwood holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and is a graduate of Suffolk Law School. Rockwood is the chairman of the Affordable Housing Committee in Walpole, a position he has held since 2001.

He has served as Walpole town moderator, an annually elected position, since 2004.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Miracles From Moody, a Walpole-based charitable oranization formed in honor of Rockwood's late cousin, Alan "Moody" Rockwood, a former local selectman and businessman who died in 2003.

"As Moody did in his life, we try to help out people in need," Rockwood said. The organization has a broad mission including providing Christmas gifts for families in need and assisting families dealing with illness.

From 1983 to 1992, prior to attending law school, Rockwood lived in Washington, D.C. and worked as an intelligence research analyst for the National Security Agency.

Jon and Christy Rockwood, both natives of Walpole, are the parents of three daughters and a son.

"The campaign is going to be a lot of hard work, but I'm very excited to be in the race," Rockwood said.

The Bristol and Norfolk district comprises parts of Attleboro and Sharon, and all of Foxboro, Mansfield, Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Walpole, Medfield and Dover.

Candidates for the Massachusetts Senate or House of Representatives must submit their nomination papers to the local towns by April 29. After the town clerks certify the signatures, the candidates submit the papers to the secretary of state by May 27.

The state primary election is set for Sept. 16, the state general election for Nov. 4.