Greeneville-based actress and nuclear power critic Park Overall has thrown her hat into the ring for the U.S. Senate race in Tennessee.

Overall, 55, formally filed papers to run on the Democratic ticket for the office Wednesday in Nashville at the state Board of Elections.

"I have officially filed to run against [Republican incumbent] Bob Corker for the U.S. Senate," Overall told The Greeneville Sun this morning. "Somebody had to do it and if nobody else will do it, I will do it."

Blake Fontenay, a spokesman for the Tennessee Election Commission, confirmed this morning in a telephone interview that the petition had been filed. He could not confirm whether the required number of signatures had been verified.

Overall told the Sun she is looking for a campaign manager as she gears up for a serious run at the office.

"I'm a good Democrat and there doesn't seem to be one around. I'm going for broke," she said.

Overall said she will focus on women's issues and the environment in her campaign.

Overall is an outspoken critic of nuclear power, and has frequently spoken at hearings and public meetings associated with the operation of the Nuclear Fuel Services plant in Unicoi County.

Overall said she received a favorable response about her candidacy Saturday from a crowd of 700 at the Jackson Day event in Nashville.

She characterized herself as an "all-inclusive" candidate who will "tell it like it is."

"It's the hatred and the rhetoric. Why can't anybody tell the truth? I'm going to tell the truth," Overall said.

An official announcement will be made this week, Overall said.

"I will start low, build slow, strike fire and leave the stage," she said.