LIHUE >>  Kauai’s police chief is ending his law enforcement career but hoping to start a political one.

Darryl Perry filed nomination papers on Friday to run for a seat on the Kauai County Council.

“My law enforcement career has run its course, and I feel like it’s time for the department to move forward with new ideas,” Perry told the Garden Island.

Perry has led the Kauai police force since 2007. He retired from the Honolulu Police Department in 2002. He also has served as chief of security at First Hawaiian Bank and as an investigator with the state attorney general’s office.

He said he never pictured himself running for office.

“I’ve never been involved on the legislative side of the criminal justice system, and I felt maybe that’s a good thing,” he said. “I felt that this would be a good time to make that transition and I bring a variety of experiences on the executive side of government and I was thinking that perhaps I could help.”

So far, seven others are vying for the seat in the November election. Candidates have until June 3 to file nomination papers.

One of Perry’s campaign promises is to make government decisions more open.

“In terms of government in the legislative branch, I find it problematic that a lot of the issues concerning the public goes into closed sessions, executive sessions, and I would like to look at ways of making that more open,” Perry said. “I know everybody uses the term transparency, but I want to see how we can be more open and have the people who voted us, if I’m elected, be a part of the process instead of having decisions made by only a few.”