Rep. Akbari launches run for state Senate

State Rep. Raumesh Akbari, who has been engaged in an exploratory campaign for the state Senate, Monday picked up qualifying papers for the seat being vacated by Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris and declared her candidacy, reports WATN-TV.

Harris announced earlier he would not seek reelection to the Senate District 29 seat and instead run for Shelby County mayor. It’s a staunchly Democratic district.

“We have a lot of unique challenges in Memphis, I think, different from other parts of the state,” says State Rep. Akbari. “But I find if we focus on a lot of the things we have in common like education, like dealing with issues of crime and youth who don’t have opportunities for employment, opportunities for education, like looking at ways we bring more jobs to our community. We can be more successful as legislators.”

Akbari currently represents House District 91 and will vacate that seat to make her run for the Senate.