BRASELTON — Braselton Mayor Pat Graham will be seeking election for a different office this fall.

Graham announced Tuesday that rather than run for re-election in Braselton, instead she will seek the District 47 state Senate seat held by Sen. Ralph Hudgens, who is running for Georgia insurance commissioner.

"Over the last eight years, we have relied on conservative principles and worked to transform Braselton into a recognized city of excellence," Graham said in a news release Tuesday. "We have never raised taxes and yet the city is in solid financial shape. I’ll rely on those same conservative principles and management experience to help prevent any tax increase and make state government more efficient."

Graham, who was elected mayor in 2001 and re-elected in 2005, said she wanted to make the announcement for two major reasons.

"I chose to make this announcement at this time ... to allow residents of Braselton ample time to consider the municipal elections this November and to show citizens of the 47th Senate District my commitment to a positive, issue-focused campaign during the upcoming year," Graham said in the release.

She serves on the State Water Council as a member of the Upper Oconee Board and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Georgia Municipal Association. She also serves as chairwoman of the Municipal Government Legislative Policy Committee for GMA.

Graham also serves on the Board of the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center, and the boards of directors for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce.

District 47 includes Barrow, Madison and Oglethorpe, as well as parts of Clarke, Jackson and Elbert counties.

Graham will complete her term as mayor of Braselton, which ends this December, and an election will be held in November to elect her successor. Town Councilman Ralph Richardson Jr. earlier this year announced his intention to run for mayor.