New London — Former City Councilor John Russell on Thursday announced his candidacy for City Council and successfully has petitioned his way onto the Nov. 3 ballot.

Russell, a registered Republican, will run as an unaffiliated candidate.

The Secretary of the State’s Office confirmed he had submitted the required 30 signatures to appear on the ballot, or 1 percent of the registered unaffiliated voters who voted in the last election. He collected 43.

Russell was elected to the City Council in 2009 when he was cross-endorsed by the Green and Republican parties. He served as Deputy Mayor from 2010 to 2011. He co-chaired the School Building and Maintenance Committee during the construction of Wintrop and Nathan Hale schools and was liaison to the Water Pollution Water Control Authority.

Russell is a Navy veteran who opened and ran Russell’s Ribs from 1990 to 2003. He is a member of the New London Kiwanis Club and spearheaded the annual Homeless to Hopeful Dance, which he said to date has raised more than $400,000 to support the Covenant Shelter and the Homeless Hospitality Center.

He opened Homeward Bound Treasures Thrift Shop in 2008, which provides jobs for the homeless and whose proceeds go directly to homeless services.

Russell is currently a Water & Water Pollution Control Authority member and, according to a news statement, a member of the SCCT Management Team at Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, a member and usher at St. James Church and a volunteer with the Gemma Moran Food Distribution Center, the Homeless Hospitality Center and the Covenant Shelter.

He has been in New London since 1970 and after his military service attended Mohegan Community College, Mitchell College and Connecticut College.

He worked for Tracor Applied Sciences and General Electric specializing in advanced sonar systems from 1979 until 1993.

“John believes strongly in a growing vibrant New London. He clearly sees our abundant natural resources and likens them to the ingredients of a cake only needing the right chef to bake it. He feels that New London will excel when we get behind people and ideas and all pull together,” according to a statement.