Just 24 hours after Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) announced that she would not run for re-election in the House and campaign for a Senate seat, someone has stepped forward to vie for her open seat.

Tina L. Nixon, who leads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for UPMC, announced Friday that she is a candidate for the 103rd House District seat to be vacated by Kim.

The district includes parts of Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Lemoyne, Wormleysburg and East Pennsboro Township.

“I want to take my record of more than 30 years of dedicated public service and servant leadership to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to ensure that our communities get their fair share from the state government,” said Nixon. “Our community needs another advocate for them under the Capitol dome, and I want to take my passion for public service and put it to work to help the people of the district. I look forward to the upcoming campaign in the 103rd District and a new direction for our Commonwealth.”

The former YWCA CEO has worked in the human service field for more than 30 years, collaborating with area leaders on issues dealing with hunger, homelessness, the welfare-to-work program, health care, domestic violence, sexual assault, childcare and racial justice. Nixon started her career in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives working for former Speaker of the House K. Leroy Irvis.

Nixon also briefly served as a member of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, a state-appointed body tasked with overseeing Harrisburg’s financial recovery. Throughout her career, she has served on many other nonprofit boards, including for Fort Hunter and the Joshua Center, according to her press statement.

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned that when we work together, we can achieve extraordinary results that make a difference in people’s lives,” said Nixon. “My focus will be on bringing together people of different points of view, backgrounds, and experiences to solve problems in our communities.”

A native of Harrisburg, she and her husband, James, have two children.

“The 103rd District is a wonderful place to raise a family,” noted Nixon. “There is a strong sense of community and an almost limitless potential among the people. I am fully committed to making a positive change in our community.”