With Rep. Nick Collins a step closer to joining the Massachusetts Senate, his legislative aide on Wednesday announced plans to run for his House seat. David Biele posted in a South Boston community Facebook group that he had picked up nomination papers to seek the Fourth Suffolk House seat, which represents South Boston and parts of Dorchester.

"Having worked in Representative Collins' office on behalf of the district's residents for several years, I am confident that I am the candidate most qualified to hit the ground running on the issues that matter to us all: improving the reliability and efficiency of a public transportation system faced with overcrowding and increased demand; an exploding real estate market that is pricing too many families and young people out of the neighborhoods that have made us who we are; and an opioid crisis that is robbing too many of our friends and neighbors of their dreams, loved ones, and lives," Biele wrote.

Biele highlighted his firsthand experience with issues facing the district, saying he commutes to work via the MBTA, and has lost friends to opioids and seen others thrive in recovery programs.

Collins ran uncontested in a special Senate primary Tuesday and is now the Democratic nominee for the seat last held by Linda Dorcena Forry of Dorchester. He will face off against unenrolled candidates Althea Garrison and Donald Osgood in a May 1 election.