Former Charlottesville Mayor Nancy O'Brien announced today that she is running for the Democratic nomination for Virginia's 25 th Senate District. She was surrounded by family and a group of community leaders, including Charlottesville's current mayor Blake Caravati, and a number of other current and former local officials with whom she's worked over the past two decades.

Speaking from her home in Charlottesville, O'Brien said "I've spent a great part of my life building local and regional coalitions to get things done. I'd like to do that in the State Senate so Virginia can move forward into the new century."

(L-R) Nancy O'Brien with Chic Moran

Later this month O'Brien is retiring after 15 years as executive director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. She has worked extensively with local governments on a wide range of regional projects, including affordable housing, sustainable growth, solid waste, and economic development.

O'Brien, the first woman to be selected as mayor in Charlottesville, has received many honors, including the Chamber of Commerce's Paul Goodloe McIntire award for community service and the Virginia Women Forum's "Woman of the Year" award.

She is married to former Mayor and retired banker, Francis Fife, and is the mother of four children. She has three grandchildren.

The new Virginia 25 th district includes Charlottesville, Albemarle and Nelson counties and a precinct of Buckingham County. It stretches across the Blue Ridge to include Rockbridge, Bath, and Allegheny Counties, and the cities of Buena Vista, Clifton Forge and Covington. The special election is being held due to the vacancy created by the death of Senator Emily Couric.

The Democratic convention is Saturday, November 10 at 11 a.m. in the Albemarle County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville.