DURANGO -- La Plata County Democratic Chairwoman Susan Garcia made a surprise announcement Saturday that she will challenge Rep. Mark Larson for the House District 59 seat.

Garcia’s announcement came at the La Plata County Democratic assembly at Needham Elementary School immediately after J.B. Smith of Pagosa Springs gave a speech about seeking the party’s support.

But Smith then withdrew, and the 59th District assembly that followed the county assembly voted 13-2 to confirm Garcia as the Democratic candidate for the state seat.

Larson, R-Cortez, holds the seat and has already announced he will run for re-election.

"After watching what was developing today I believed we needed to give the 59th District Democrats another choice," Garcia said.

Garcia, 30, works for the Human Resources Department in Durango School District 9-R. She said she is a young politician, which speaks volumes about her nomination.

"I am flattered and honored to have the nomination from these people who have devoted their lives to being Democrats," she said.

Garcia has been the chairwoman of the La Plata County Democratic Party for one year.

"I always knew I would get involved in politics some day; I just didn’t know today would be that day," Garcia said.

Issues she said she would champion if elected include protecting the environment from destructive and "corrosive" industries and improving education in Colorado.

"The state of education is pretty sad right now," Garcia said. "I think we need to make education more accessible and not less accessible."

She said Larson has done some good deeds, such as voting in favor of same-sex marriages, but he has come out sounding and acting like a Republican.

"I have been pleasantly surprised with his representation," Garcia said. "For the most part I have been pretty comfortable with having him as a representative."

Larson said Garcia’s candidacy will give voters a choice at election time, and if they decide she is right for the job he will "go fishing."

"I think she’ll be formidable, and I think she’ll add to the debate," Larson said.

Garcia said she has lived in La Plata County her entire life and plans on raising her children here.