A top political advisor for Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, who previously served as his communications director, is taking an unpaid leave from her city role to run the mayoral campaign of former District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis.

Candace Cooksey, who has been the city’s Senior Political Advisor since November, was announced Monday as the lead consultant for Cheriogotis’ mayoral run. Cooksey, who helped lead Stimpson’s first two mayoral campaigns, has nearly two decades of experience in political consulting, strategic communications and public affairs.