West Chester Mayor, Carolyn Comitta, announced her candidacy for a seat in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday at East Goshen Park, in front of her friends and family as well as other political dignitaries.

Comitta is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for the seat in the 156th district that represents parts of West Goshen, East Goshen, Westtown, Birmingham and Thornbury Townships, as well as the Borough of West Chester.

“Public service in politics is definitely not for everyone, but I love it,” Comitta said when addressing the gathered crowd.

She will challenge third term Republican State Representative incumbent Dan Truitt, who announced his run for re-election on Tuesday. If she succeeds, she would be only the second Democrat to hold the seat since 1969, with the other being Barbara McIlvaine Smith, who defeated Shannon Royer in 2007 to win the seat.

Comitta said that the experience she has gathered working in West Chester’s local government as well as working with West Chester University is the main reason why voters should consider her the right pick for the 156th district.

“I am proud to be the candidate who listens, who celebrates diversity and inclusiveness and who brings people together to consider all points of view and get things done,” she remarked.

After attacking the Harrisburg system, Comitta promised that she will be a bipartisan leader, and that she will use the seat to address issues of local importance at the state level.

“We all know the system in Harrisburg is not working,” pointed out Comitta. “We’re in the seventh month of a budget impasse.”

Comitta is currently serving her second term as the mayor of West Chester, and is the first Democrat to become the borough’s mayor since 1992, as well as its first female mayor.