Let the race(s) begin.

With three seats available in the State House after the November elections, it is time for candidates to make their intentions known and another hat in the ring belongs to Bhavini Patel.

The Edgewood Borough Council woman and Community Outreach Manager in the Office of Allegheny County Executive Fitzgerald has announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 34th House District seat (HD34) to be vacated by Democrat Summer Lee.

Lee is moving on to Washington to serve as the 12th Congressional District representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’m running to serve our region on key issues, many of which impacted my family,” Patel tweeted. “As a State Representative in this District, I will prioritize constituent services, bring resources home, invest in public safety, support small businesses, fund infrastructure maintenance and more.

In her role with the county, she works under the Director of Community Relations and Special Projects in interfacing with communities on issues relating to trails, food policy, and sustainability.

Her priorities include working to ensure HD34 is central to this economic growth and that our workforce receives training and education in high-demand skills to remain competitive; fighting for affordable higher education and investments in vocational training programs; fighting for affordable healthcare; and protecting the environment for our generation and future generations.

Patel, 29, holds a bachelor’s degree in International Area Studies, Sociology and Africana Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Oxford as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar.

Two other vacant seats will be determined by special elections this spring – HD32 due to the passing on long-time state rep Anthony DeLuca and HD35 due to the election of Austin Davis as lieutenant governor.

corrected to update her age.