A former NIU student and local lawyer will file petitions Wednesday to enter the race for state representative of the DeKalb area.

Mark Ludden, a 1991 College of Law graduate, is currently the only democrat who plans to file for the representation of the newly re mapped 70th district which includes the DeKalb, Sycamore and Rochelle areas.

The republican incumbent, Brad Brazinski, will be running for state senate of the newly formed 35th district, leaving the state representative position open, Ludden said.

Ludden, 31, said he currently knows of only two republican opponents, neither of which he considers very formidable. The only other interested democrat, Tim Brechon of Rochelle, recently withdrew from the race.

“There’s a lot of disenchantment with the administration downstate,” Ludden said. “This district doesn’t need a partisan representative as much as it needs a person who is committed to taking the area’s concerns to Springfield.”

Ludden said he feels the district needs a representative without a personal agenda who can communicate with people.

“It’s important to have someone in office (who) is fiscally responsible and who listens to the concerns of the district,” he said.

Ludden will open his district headquarters Thursday between 6 and 8 p.m. at 460 W. Hillcrest Drive. He said he will make a formal announcement of his candidacy at that time.

Ludden said he is asking the people for an opportunity to meet and talk with them. He urges the public to attend the opening of his office and express their concerns to him.

“The numbers are against us,” Ludden said. “I believe this is going to be a shoe leather race with a nonstop pace. I’m not so interested with the odds as I am with the opportunity.”

DeKalb area residents interested in voting in upcoming elections can register through the DeKalb County Clerk of Elections.

DeKalb County Election Clerk Nancy Marchiando said currently there are 33,871 registered voters in DeKalb County.

“Residents need to bring two forms of identification, which prove residency in DeKalb County, to the DeKalb County Administration building in order to register,” Marchiando said.