Longtime state Sen. Mike Woodard, D-Durham, announced Wednesday that he is running to be the mayor of Durham.
Current Mayor Elaine O’Neal announced last month that she would not seek reelection.
Woodard, who reportedly had several calls from Durham officials asking him to run for office, served on the Durham City Council from 2005 to 2012 and has served in the General Assembly since 2013.
He said he plans to continue serving in the state Senate during the campaign but would step down in December if he wins the mayor’s race, since state law doesn’t allow anyone to hold two offices simultaneously.
Charlitta Burruss, a minister and community activist; and Sylvester Williams, a pastor, have also filed to run. Both have run unsuccessfully for the seat in the past.
Durham’s mayoral primary, which takes place in October, is nonpartisan.
The two top vote-getters for each office will then face off in the November election.