Outgoing City Commissioner Boog Highberger has confirmed that he’ll officially seek the appointment to fill the seat on the Douglas County Commission that will become vacant when Charles Jones steps down.

We reported last week that Highberger, a six-year member of the City Commission who chose not to seek re-election, was considering seeking the seat.

Now, he says he’ll be in the race when Douglas County Democrats meet for a special convention at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

Highberger said he’ll “make his case” to the 22 precinct committeemen and women from Jones’ district who will cast secret ballots to determine the appointment.

Highberger will have stiff competition. Mike Gaughan, a legislative assistant to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and a former director of the state’s Democratic Party, has been running an active campaign for the seat.

Presumably, Gaughan will have a head start in winning votes. Both Gaughan and his wife are precinct committee members who are eligible to vote in the election.

Speculation is that no other serious candidates will emerge for the seat.

Jones is stepping down to devote more time to his job at Kansas University.