Peggy Flanagan has moved quickly following State Rep. Ryan Winkler’s surprise announcement Thursday that he will resign from the Legislature because his family is moving to Europe.

Flanagan, a well-connected DFLer who is now executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, said she’ll run for the seat. She’s previously worked at Wellstone Action and Minnesotans United for All Families.

Flanagan, 35, lives in St. Louis Park, and says she’s a U of M grad and a citizen of the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe. She and her husband have a 2-year-old daughter.

Flanagan said in the statement announcing her run:

“My mom and I moved to St. Louis Park when I was a baby. As a single mother, she chose this community because of the opportunities that it provided for good public education, stable neighborhoods, and economic security, and she was right. My family and I settled in my hometown for the same reasons, and now I want to give back.”

Winkler announced Thursday that his wife has accepted a job in Belgium. He’ll leave the Legislature but keep his job here with Biothera, a Minnesota company with international operations. He’ll split his time between Minnesota and Belgium.

Gov. Dayton will call a special election for the seat, possibly in November to coincide with local elections.