Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the mother of Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio, a victim of the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting, has announced her bid to run for mayor of Uvalde.

On Thursday (July 27), Mata-Rubio posted a message on social media, alongside an article about her candidacy printed in the town’s newspaper, the Uvalde Leader-News. The message was written for Lexi.

Mata-Rubio is running to succeed Mayor Don McLaughlin, who is resigning from the post to run for a state House seat. According to CNN, McLaughlin will remain mayor until a special election names a new city leader on November 7, 2023.

In an interview with the Leader-News, where she currently works in the advertising department, Mata-Rubio explained her decision to seek the mayoral seat.

“It would be easy to run from the issues that plague our town, but I have decided to remain in Uvalde and be part of the change that is long overdue,” she said. “Our town has become stagnant. Our leadership became comfortable, which led to the events that unfolded on May 24, 2022. The aftermath has added to the trauma of a grieving and fractured community. It is my hope to bridge the gap because only when we come together can we evolve to something greater.”

Since the tragic shooting last year that claimed her daughter’s life, Kimberly Mata-Rubio has become a strong advocate for gun control legislation. Earlier this year, family members of the shooting victims testified at a House committee hearing to voice their support for a bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic gun in Texas from 18 to 21.