A former Dallas police chief with nearly 40 years of public service wants to be mayor.
David Kunkle on Tuesday filed the paperwork to get on the May 14 ballot after weeks of speculation that he'd run for the city's top office.
Mayor Tom Leppert last month announced he will not seek a second term leading the state's third largest city. The Republican has been mayor of Dallas since 2007.
Leppert's name has surfaced as a possible candidate to replace GOP U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is not running for re-election in 2012.
Kunkle retired as Dallas police chief last May. He's a former Arlington police chief and ex-deputy city manager in Arlington.
Kunkle will face councilman Ron Natinsky, who was recently endorsed by the Dallas Police Association, and business leader Mike Rawlings.
