ORANGE — Former state Rep. Denise Andrews wants a rematch to regain her old seat in the Legislature.
The Orange Democrat represented the 2nd Franklin District in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, but lost the seat to Republican Susannah Whipps Lee of Athol in the 2014 election.
The 2nd Franklin District includes Precinct A of Belchertown.
Andrews formally announced her re-election bid Thursday, although it was reported last month that she had returned nomination papers.
“Serving as your Representative and helping individuals, families and our communities solve problems and make progress was a job I loved. I would be honored to be elected and to again have the privilege of serving this wonderful district,” Andrews said in a statement.
“Ensuring that our area has good jobs will continue to be my top priority,” Andrews said. “Additionally, we also have serious work to do to stop the addiction that plagues our district and the state, to increase our economic prospects and to enhance our communication infrastructure. I love this area and know our strengths as well as the opportunities we can access with the right representation advocating for us.”
Both Whipps Lee and Andrews face no primary challengers in September and will meet in the general election Nov. 8.
Andrews, a 57-year-old Orange native who won her first bid for elected office in 2010 with nearly 53 percent of the total in a three-way race, after defeating three other challengers in the Democratic primary, had been working for more than 25 years in corporate management, primarily at Procter & Gamble in Ohio.
She also has operated a diversity training consulting firm, Legacy Unlimited, from her home in Orange.
Whipps Lee, an Athol native, has served on the House joint committees on elder affairs, mental health and substance abuse, state administration and regulatory oversight and municipal and regional government, as well as a special task force for the prevention of child sexual abuse.