SWEETWATER COUNTY — Michelle Irwin has announced her candidacy for the Wyoming house of Representatives, District 18.

The following is the full text of the release:

After much self-reflection and consideration of input from others, I have decided to announce my candidacy for the Wyoming House of Representatives, District 18.

This represents a change of plans, and reflects an opportunity that didn’t exist when I made my earlier decision to run for Senate District 14 last November. That decision was based on the information that was available at the time.

I could not anticipate that incumbent Senator Stan Cooper would announce his retirement, and that first term HD18 Representative Fred Baldwin would seek the seat, leaving the HD18 position open once again.

Having campaigned for this seat in 2014, I had the chance to better know the people and concerns of the district. I am excited to have the opportunity to once again run for this position.

I want to thank Senator Cooper for his many years of public service. I also want to thank Representative Fred Baldwin for his term in the legislature, and to wish him well as he pursues the Senate seat.

Should we both win our respective elections, I look forward to working with him in the state legislature on behalf of our region, and Wyoming. We need cooperation in both chambers, and from both parties, working on behalf of Wyoming and her citizens.