Rice Won't Run for Mayor Next Year

West Ward Councilman Ron Rice announced Monday he would not seek to become Newark’s next mayor in 2014 but would possibly run for another term on the nine-member municipal council.

“I will not be a candidate for mayor in 2014,” Rice said in a statement. “As we enter the election season, there is a need for our city leadership to continue to work on the pressing issues of our city, and a campaign for Mayor will take needed attention away from tackling institutional issues in Newark. I choose to work on proposing solutions to our intractable problems and a campaign for mayor gets in the way of that.”

A number of prospective candidates have either stepped forward or are considered likely to run. South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka announced his plans to seek the mayoralty last year, and is expected to face fellow South Ward resident Shavar Jeffries, a former state Assistant Attorney General. North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, the current council president, is also a likely contender. Ramos would be the first Hispanic mayor in the city’s history.

Almost certainly out of the mix is incumbent Mayor Cory Booker, who has all but declared his intention to run for US Senate next year.

Rice has enjoyed a close relationship with Baraka, a strong contender to succeed Booker. in 2012, Baraka endorsed Rice in his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress, losing to Donald Payne Jr., who was elected to the seat in November.

Rice instead plans to pursue an ambitious agenda that includes supporting state Sen. Barbara Buono in her run for governor against Chris Christie later this year.

“Before we start talking about campaigns for mayor, US Senate or city council, we have a mighty electoral task in 2013 and that is to end the right wing politics and policies of Chris Christie that are devastating cities like Newark,”said Rice. “We have the chance to support a true progressive in Senator Buono and to finally tackle the problems of jobs, healthcare, education and property taxes in a responsible manner in New Jersey. Senator Buono will need a true grassroots movement to win and I know firsthand how to organize such an effort in Newark and Essex County.”

Rice also said he would continue to work on pressing city issues, including coming up with a way to finance the city’s water system -- which needs an estimated $500 million in repairs -- as well as other “progressive” issues he plans to delineate in a white paper to be released on Independence Day.

While leaving open the possibility of another council run, Rice also said he has not yet decided whether he would seek re-election as West Ward councilman or instead seek an at-large council post.