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GREENSBORO — A local gang leader is aiming for a new post: City Council.

Jorge Cornell, who said he is an “Inca” of the North Carolina Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, filed to run for City Council at-large Thursday.

Cornell is among nine candidates who have so far announced their intentions to run for the three at-large council seats. All city voters are eligible to cast ballots for the at-large seats.

Cornell could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Candidates have until noon today to file to run for Greensboro City Council.

Last year, Cornell, 32, called for peace from local gangs at a news conference at the Beloved Community Center.

He also used the news conference, and subsequent forums, to ask African Americans and Latinos to join together to fight racism.

Local faith leaders have said Cornell has been targeted by Greensboro police, including an incident in November in which Cornell and three other gang members were charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old girl.

A felony charge of abduction was dismissed against Cornell in January.

Last month, Cornell called for Greensboro’s police gang unit to be dismantled, citing ongoing harassment against the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation.

According to his candidacy paperwork, Cornell has been convicted of a felony previously.

Brenda Wallace, of the Guilford County Board of Elections, said a conviction does not disqualify a candidate from running for public office.

She said a database search showed that Cornell was cleared to file.

Eight other candidates have also filed to run for the council’s three at-large positions: Marikay Abuzuaiter, Max Benbassat, Donnell “D.J.” Hardy, Sandra Anderson Groat, Julie Lapham, Robbie Perkins, Danny Thompson and Nancy Vaughan.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com