Wichita ? If it’s experience that counts at City Hall, felon turned-author-turned-politician George Poulos offers something no one else can in the race for mayor.

“People are going to have to get up awful early in the morning to get scams past me,” Poulos, 78, said, because he already knows them all.

Making no apologies for his criminal past, which includes 20 years spent in prison after convictions for arson, racketeering and gambling, Poulos announced Wednesday his candidacy to replace Mayor Bob Knight. The election is April 1.

He joins in the race state Rep. Carlos Mayans, R-Wichita, who is not seeking re-election to the Legislature in order to run for mayor. And although still not committed, city council member Joe Pisciotte said Wednesday, “I’m almost certain I’m going to run.”

Poulos, who expressed concerns about education and health-care funding during his announcement, pledged to represent the common man if elected. The author of “George, You Rascal, You” a book about some of his criminal exploits also said he wouldn’t bother with political correctness during his campaign.

“I’ve done all that they said I did and probably a lot more you don’t know,” Poulos said.

A second book, concerning life in prison, is on the way, said Poulos, who expects to earn his degree from Friends University next year.

“I kind of turned my life around,” Poulos said.