Jacksonville Mayor Robert Haberle officially said he is running for county judge of Cherokee County in the upcoming elections.

Dr. Haberle is running as an Independent write-in candidate, and will challenge Democratic nominee Marlene Jowell and incumbent Republican Chris Davis in November.

He has been Mayor of the City of Jacksonville since 2005.

According to Haberle, one of his priorities will be working with each local municipality to help maximize the economic development opportunities for everyone. He said he wants to foster economic growth in Cherokee County so that the area’s best-and-brightest don’t go off to college to get an education and then never return.

Haberle said serving as Jacksonville’s mayor for the past few years has been one of the utmost privileges of his entire life.