The host of a local comedy program on cable television has filed for a seat on the Lawrence City Commission, but he’s assuring voters that he’s making a serious run for office.

“I think people are going to think it is a joke, and that is the biggest worry,” Mike Anderson said after filing on Tuesday. “I do make jokes for a living, but I’m 100 percent serious about running for the City Commission.”

Anderson, 33, works as the host and head writer for “The Not So Late Show,” which airs on the local cable system operated by WOW.

Anderson has lived in Lawrence for a little more than a decade after coming to Kansas University to get his master’s and doctorate in communication studies. He thinks his skills as a professional communicator and researcher would serve the commission well.

“I’m a transparent candidate, and I think people really want that on the commission,” he said. “I’m making the commitment that anybody who wants to talk to me, I’ll come to their home or wherever they want to talk.”

Anderson said he anticipates a campaign that will focus on a host of economic issues, but also the arts, transportation and other topics. He said he does believe the city’s spending priorities have been questionable at times.

“The Rock Chalk Park project and the recreation center, I’m not super excited about that,” Anderson said.

He said he supports the idea of recreation centers but questioned the timing of the project, and said he thinks residents are frustrated that they didn’t get enough of a say on the project.

Anderson is the sixth candidate to file for a seat on the commission. The others are Leslie Soden, the owner of a Lawrence pet sitting company; Stuart Boley, a retired IRS agent; Stan Rasmussen, an attorney for the U.S. Army; Matthew Herbert, a Lawrence High School government and civics teacher; and Justin Priest, a Lawrence bus driver and leader of the local transit union.

The seats currently held by Commissioners Mike Dever, Terry Riordan and Bob Schumm are set to expire. Candidates have until noon Jan. 27 to file for one of the three at-large seats. If seven or more candidates file, a primary election will take place March 3 to narrow the field to six. The general election will be April 7.