Paul Browning III, former sheriff's candidate and son of the slain former Harlan County Sheriff Paul Browning Jr., has announced that he is running for Cumberland City Council.

Browning said that he hopes to "bring some unity to the city government."

Running in the midst of a divisive financial crisis, the Cumberland native said that his try for the council is based on a desire to see the city prosper.

"It's not any one person's mess, but we kind of have a mess here in Cumberland," he said.

"You can either stand by and watch a mess or you can grab a broom and clean it up. So I'm taking the grab-a-broom option."

The deadline for filing to run for council was Nov. 10.

According to Cumberland Mayor Jeff Harrison, current council members Loretta Cornett, Jim Bush, Norma Bowyer, Bill Hodges and Kathy Dixon are all running for re-election. Greg Collier and Don Disney are staying out of the race this time.

Harrison said that he's disappointed the two aren't running again. They have experience that the city council needs, he said.

Including the five current council members, 10 people are running for the seven council seats.

Browning, Terry Huff, Corky Tackett, Danny Quillen and Paul Augusta are also running, said Harrison.

Growing up in the spotlight of his father's public position, Browning said, fueled his own political ambitions.

"It definitely had a bearing on my life, having been in the public eye," he said. "I've seen there's a responsibility that comes with any office that I don't think every candidate takes as seriously as I do."