ANNAPOLIS — Lisa Baugher, a former candidate for state delegate, has announced that she plans to run for the state Senate seat occupied by Sen. Alex X. Mooney, R-Frederick/Washington.

Baugher will be running as a Democrat, she said.

Mooney said Tuesday he plans to run for re-election. Candidates can begin filing July 6, and no others have publicly announced their decision to run.

Baugher, 55, of Frederick, Md., ran against Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr., who represents parts of Washington and Frederick counties, in the 2002 Democratic primary. She has been working for Weldon, who is now unaffiliated with a party, since 2004 as his legislative affairs officer.

When Weldon announced he would not seek re-election in 2010, Baugher said she thought a state Senate run would be a good way for her to continue the work they have done together, she said.

Before going to work for Weldon, Baugher was a citizen advocate and executive director of the nonprofit Monocacy Environmental Council.

“I think Washington County’s issues are going to be similar to Frederick County’s issues,” Baugher said of local topics. “Right now, the budget sort of overshadows everything. We’re at a time right now where everything is subject to be cut.”

She said the state should use this time as an opportunity to rethink some of its past practices and make improvements.

The deadline for candidates to file is July 6, 2010.

The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2010, and the general election will be Nov. 2, 2010.