SABATTUS — Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins announced Tuesday that he is running for the state Senate in the November 2014 election.

The seat is now held by Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, for District 17.

Legislative redistricting approved this year means the district will be renumbered to 22 for the 2014 election. It will include the towns of Durham, Lisbon, Sabattus, Wales, Leeds, Greene, Turner, Litchfield and Wayne.

Desjardins, a Democrat, said in June he would not seek re-election to the sheriff post, in which he is serving his second four-year term. Desjardins also has served as the county’s chief deputy and is retiring from a 37-year career in law enforcement.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Reserve.

“I’m running for the state Senate to be a voice in Augusta for our communities,” Desjardins said in a written statement. “I will fight for a balanced government that supports our communities, strengthens our public schools and ensures no one is denied access to health care.”

Desjardins said he’s a strong supporter of increasing access to health care by accepting the federal government’s deal to provide health insurance for nearly 70,000 Mainers, including veterans, under an expanded Medicaid program.

“We need to do everything possible to help those in need; otherwise, we have failed as a society,” he said. “We should all be able to see a doctor when we’re sick, especially our veterans who have already given so much. Surely, we can give them access to the health care they need.”

Desjardins grew up in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1971. He is married to Christel Desjardins and has one son, Brian. He and Christel have lived in Sabattus for 28 years.

Desjardins will have a formal campaign announcement at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Jillson’s Farms in Sabattus.

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