By Cody Mello-Klein | [email protected]

Alexandria resident Annetta Catchings officially announced she is running for mayor as a Republican. If she is the Republican nominee, she will square off against the winner of the June 8 Democratic primary race between incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson and former Mayor Allison Silberberg on Nov. 2.

Catchings, who has worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines for 30 years, moved to the city last August and decided to run for mayor after being urged by community members, friends and coworkers, according to a news release.

“As a Virginia resident since 2004, I moved to Alexandria City for its diversity, history, and concern for its neighbors. Under the incumbent’s tenure, our community has experienced failures in getting kids back to school and unsustainable density that is making it less affordable for families to live here I want to address growth, housing affordability and education issues in partnership with the community,” Catchings said in the release.

If elected, Catchings would be the first Black female mayor in the city’s history.