A Suffolk woman has jumped into the General Assembly election fray early this year.

In fact, Emily Brewer announced last September that she would run for the Republican nomination for the 64th District House of Delegates seat, currently held by fellow Republican Rick Morris.

“I’m running for a fresh direction,” she said. “I think I would bring a fresh perspective to Richmond.”

Brewer is a lifelong resident of Suffolk and currently lives in Holland. At only 32 years old, the Nansemond River High School graduate is involved in many community and party efforts. She is on the boards of Suffolk Business Women, the Genieve Shelter and the Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation. She is a member of the Western Tidewater Young Republicans and vice chair of the 4th Congressional District.

Brewer said she is motivated to run for office to make some changes.

“We have some big challenges here,” she said.

One of her passions is economic development. She wants to create better jobs in the area so that young people don’t feel like they have to leave to find work.

“Everybody talks about our greatest export is agriculture, but ours is actually children,” she said — because young people grow up, move and don’t come back.

As someone who was adopted as a newborn, Brewer also wants to focus on adoption and foster care reform if she gets elected.

“It’s really hard to adopt children in Virginia,” she said. “There’s so many facets to it.”

Brewer also said she plans to be accessible and, as part of that goal, will open a district office.

“I feel like legislators should be accessible,” she said.

Overall, Brewer said, she is ready to represent the 64th District. It includes parts of Suffolk and Franklin, as well as parts of the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry, Sussex and Prince George.

“I feel like it’s time,” she said. “I’m excited.”