ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- A Rockford Democrat makes it official Tuesday tonight, Carl Wasco wants to make the move from city alderman to state assemblyman.

Wasco announced that he will run for the 68th district seat currently held by the retiring Dave Winters. The current fourth ward alderman says his six years on the city council and leadership roles in real estate and the Rockford Housing Authority give him the experience he needs to represent the area in Springfield.

Wasco says the first order of business if elected is to work on fixing the state's budget.

"The best way to get the economy going is to try and get more jobs created in the State of Illinois. And that's not going to happen until we do some things down-state. I'm going to walk and talk to the citizens of the district, pick up some ideas, suggestion, take their input and bring it down-state to try and implement some of it," Wasco said.

The new 68th includes most of Loves Park and Machesney Park and parts of Rockford and Cherry Valley. Republican John Cabello announced his candidacy last month.