Former state Rep. Joan Barry, a Democrat from South County, plans to kickoff Friday her bid for the 1st District state Senate seat.

The current occupant, Democrat Harry Kennedy, is term-limited and can’t seek re-election next year.

Barry’s event will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the IBEW Local 1439 hall, 2121 59th Street.

Her invited special guests, according to a release, include: former U.S. Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, city Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Kennedy, state Sen. Jeff Smith, state Reps. Sue Schoemehl, Mike Vogt and Pat Yaeger; County Councilman Mike O’Mara, Democratic consultant/fundraiser Joyce Aboussie, state Democraticx Party chairman John Temporiti, Committeeman Earl Blasé, and Committeewoman Ann Pluemer.

Said Barry in a statement: “It was my honor to serve in the Missouri General Assembly as the state representative for the 100th district. I decided to run for the first Senatorial District to bring my experience back to work for the people of the first district and this great state.

“I will work to make sure we have continued healthcare for our seniors and uninsured children. I will fight to maintain a strong educational system for our students, and teachers; and most importantly I will stand up for the working middle class to protect good, strong & stable jobs.”

According to her bio, Barry is a registered nurse, and works as a clinical educator for Retractable Technologies, Inc.

She is a member of the Missouri Nurses Association, Nurses for Newborns, A Board Member of the St. Louis March of Dimes, and Vice President of the National Board of Democrats for Life of America.

She is a graduate of Notre Dame High School in St. Louis and DePaul Hospital School of Nursing. She resides in Oakville with her husband, former state Rep. Phillip Barry. They have four children and eight grandchildren.