Portland city commissioner Randy Leonard says he wont be running again when his term ends next year.  A longtime Leonard ally is already seeking the open seat.

Steve Novick had been considered a potential candidate for Portland mayor. Three years ago, he nearly defeated Jeff Merkley in the 2008 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. But Novick says as a city commissioner, he could institute his policy ideas like cutting health care costs for businesses.

To use a health-care strategy that has been adopted, pioneered by, believe it or not, the casino workers union in Atlantic City. I think we could borrow that strategy and take it citywide, says Novick.

Novick says former Portland commissioner Erik Sten helped convince him that the mayors job had too many ceremonial duties.  He says those could distract him from policy work.

Novick says he got a heads-up from Leonard that he was unlikely to seek re-election. That gave him time to round up a few high-profile endorsements including Multnomah County chair Jeff Cogen, and state schools superintendent, Susan Castillo.

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