Richard Higgins, who served 11 years as chairman of the Hall County Board of Education, has announced he will seek the chairman post on the Hall County Board of Commissioners in next year’s election.

Higgins led the school board for 11 years, including during “a difficult environment of increased demand on resources, working to maintain (the school system’s) standard of excellence for county students,” according to a news release from Higgins.

The system grew by 8,500 students, and 10 new schools were built during his tenure, he said.

In a wave of anti-incumbency sentiment and following the closing of an elementary school, Higgins lost re-election to the school board in 2010. He told The Times then that he may eventually be led into another service role.

Higgins said Wednesday that he hopes he “might be able to do some good here.”

He has no set agenda but wants to bring teamwork to the board and work together “for the greater good.”

And as the county finds itself in growth mode again, Higgins said he’d take each development case as it comes, analyzing it and working to make a good decision.

Higgins is a native of Hall County, graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and president and owner of Carrier Services Inc., a Gainesville-based freight logistics firm.

Current chairman Richard Mecum has said he has no desire at this time to seek re-election.

Steve Gailey, a former District 3 commissioner, also has announced his candidacy for the seat.