CLEVELAND — On Monday, Democratic State Sen. Sandra Williams launched her campaign for the 2021 Cleveland mayoral election.

Williams joins a crowded list of candidates vying to replace Mayor Frank Jackson, who has yet to announce whether he is running for a fifth term. Jackson was first elected in 2005 and has since won re-election three times.

“Advocating for Clevelanders has been my life’s work,” Williams said in a statement. “After graduating from John Hay High School, I put myself through college at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State, and Tiffin University. Then I spent ten years working as a corrections, parole, and probation officer. Now for the last twenty years, I have worked on behalf of the people of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio in the State Legislature.”

The 2021 field includes Zack Reed, a former member of Cleveland City Council who finished with 40.5% of the vote in the 2017 mayoral election. The field also includes Kevin Kelley, Cleveland City Council’s president.

Williams paired her announcement with a number of endorsements from state legislators, including State Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko.

Williams was first elected as a state senator in 2015 and won again in 2019. Her district includes downtown and much of the east side of Cleveland. She is the ranking member on the energy and public utilities, ways and means and higher education committees. She also serves on the insurance committee.

She previously served as a four-term member of the Ohio House of Representatives.

While serving as a member of the Ohio House, she was convicted in Franklin County Municipal Court on two misdemeanor counts, according to court records. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Williams resold Ohio State football tickets worth $2,255 she purchased using campaign funds. While the Dispatch notes that purchasing football tickets with campaign funds is legal, reselling them for personal gain is not.

She served as a corrections officer, probation and parole officer mediator and legislative aide before elected office, according to her official biography.