Fort Oglethorpe police Lt. Mark Cruise missed his deadline to be placed on the ballot this November as an independent in the Catoosa County sheriff’s race. But he says he will still attempt to run for sheriff as a “write-in” candidate.

“I’m still running as an independent, but I won’t be on the ballot. … Voters will have to write me in,” Cruise said.

Cruise would have been placed on November’s ballot as an independent had he been able to acquire the necessary number of signatures, but was unable to due to a family emergency.

“The qualification deadline was Aug. 3, and I wasn’t able to get everything I needed in,” Cruise said. “My wife was ill, and I had to go out of town to be with her.”

Cruise needed a petition with the signatures of 1,781 registered voters, which is five percent of the registered voters in Catoosa County, in order to be on the ballot.

Still hopeful of being considered for the office, Cruise filed an affidavit notice Wednesday morning with The Catoosa County News announcing his intention of write-in candidacy.

“I know that this is a different way of doing it, but it ain’t over until it’s over,” Cruise said. “I’m going to do my best to meet as many people as I can and try to round up as much support as possible between now and November.”