ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Less than 24 hours after Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton announced he would step down, a city alderman says he wants the job.

Mike chamberlain is a second term alderman for the third ward in Belvidere.

He's also the current mayor pro-tem, which means he would act in Mayor Brereton's place if he ever couldn't perform his duties.

And now Chamberlain says he's ready to take on those responsibilities full time. He promises that if elected he'll be a more accessible and visible mayor.

Chamberlain says, "As I became more engaged in the community, I found myself spending more and more time with civic affairs and less and less time doing other things, like my business. And they say if you find the thing that you love, you're lucky in life, and I consider myself lucky."

Mayor Brereton will finish out the rest of his term. The mayoral election won't be until 2013.