A state senator who represents part of Suffolk has announced he will run for the Chesapeake Circuit Court clerk seat this year.

Sen. John Cosgrove (R-14), who has been in the General Assembly for 16 years, announced soon after the current clerk, Faye Mitchell, announced her retirement.

“It’s a job I think I’m well suited for, having served in the General Assembly for 16 years,” Cosgrove said by phone Wednesday. “I think I bring a lot of benefit to that office.”

By law, the chief deputy in the clerk’s office will be appointed the acting clerk until there’s an election, Cosgrove said. He anticipates some kind of party primary, as other Republicans are likely to be interested in the seat.

“Once that happens, I’m hoping we can have this election in November with everybody else’s election, just to save money for the taxpayer,” Cosgrove said.

If he wins, a special election will then have to be held to fill his Senate seat.

Republicans currently hold the majority in the state Senate by a slim margin. There are 21 Republicans and 19 Democrats.

Cosgrove said he’s not too worried about throwing off the balance by leaving.

“I think our seat is pretty safe as a Republican seat,” he said. “It’s a good conservative seat, but it’s not one we can take for granted, of course.”

Cosgrove said he will be sad to leave the General Assembly if he’s elected to the Chesapeake clerk’s seat.

“I love my district,” he said. “I have so much fun in my district, so it’s going to be a change.”

Cosgrove, an Alabama native, is a retired Navy officer and served four years on the Chesapeake City Council before being elected to the House of Delegates, where he served 12 years. He is an engineer by profession.