DAYTON, OH (WDTN/WCMH) – Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley officially jumped into the race for Governor Monday.

“I’m announcing my candidacy for Governor of Ohio because too many Ohioans feel invisible to this Governor and politicians in Columbus,” said Whaley in a press release. “I’m running for Governor because I believe Ohio’s best days are ahead of us.”

Whaley says jobs will be one her top priorities as Governor.

“We have to put Ohioans back to work by creating good paying jobs people can raise a family on and hold the drug companies that caused the heroin crisis accountable,” Whaley said. “When you’re a mayor, you don’t have the luxury of looking the other way.

“You take the world as it is and have to deliver results for your community. That’s exactly what I’ve done as Mayor of Dayton and what I’ll do as Governor of Ohio.”

Whaley says her experience in Dayton, helping to bring jobs back to the city, makes her an ideal candidate for the top job in Ohio.

She also says it’s time for a change in Columbus.

“It’s clear that Ohioans are angry, convinced the system has failed them and rightly so,” Whaley said. “The people of Ohio have been deceived and misled for years.”

Whaley joins a field of announced Democratic candidates that includes former Congresswoman Betty Sutton, former state Rep. Connie Pillich and State Senator Joe Schiavoni.

Republican Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted formally announced his candidacy over the weekend joining Congressman Jim Renacci as formally declared candidates. Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Attorney General Mike DeWine have also said they plan to run.