SEATTLE — City councilmember Tim Burgess released a statement Friday afternoon that he is dropping out of the Seattle mayoral race.

Interview with Tim Burgess about his mayoral campaign, Nov. 27, 2012 

In his statement, Burgess said:

“Our city needs new and visionary leadership in the Mayor’s office that truly brings people together to accomplish great things for all of Seattle. I had hoped to provide that leadership as Mayor.

“It is critically important that we elect a new Mayor. However, with so many qualified candidates in the field, my continued candidacy may dilute the chance of achieving the positive change Seattle needs. After much deliberation, I have chosen not to continue as a candidate. Instead, I will continue to serve this city that I love from my position on the City Council, the
most rewarding job of my life.”

Incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn is seeking re-election and is now facing six other candidates: City councilman Bruce Harrell, former city councilman Peter Steinbrueck, state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, businessman Charlie Staadecker, Greenwood activist Kate Martin and Socialist Workers Party candidate Mary Martin.

Burgess had raised the more money for his campaign than the other candidates.

SEATTLE — Mayor Mike McGinn and his seven opponents in the 2013 mayoral race met in the first major public forum of the election season Monday night.

The “Super South Seattle Mayor’s Forum” sponsored by the 11th, 34th and 37th District Democrats was held at South Seattle Community College.

Q13 FOX News political reporter C.R. Douglas, who moderated the forum, gave his assessment afterward in the video above.

In addition to McGinn, who is seeking a second term, the mayoral field includes City Councilmen Bruce Harrell and Tim Burgess, former City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck, state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, businessman Charlie Staadecker, Greenwood activist Kate Martin and Socialist Workers Party candidate Mary Martin.

On Tuesday, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. most of the candidates will meet in another public forum — this one on education — sponsored by the Central District’s Community and Parents for Public Schools.  This forum will be held at Garfield High School Commons, at 400 23rd Ave.

The primary election will be held Aug. 6.

Seattle — A list of candidates for the Seattle mayor grew a little bit longer Tuesday.

Seattle City Councilman Bruce Harrell, 54, announced Tuesday he will run for mayor. Harrell joins at least six other contenders in the race, including incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn, state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess, former City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck and real estate broker Charlie Staadecker.

“I am running for mayor because people in Seattle need strong, proactive leadership and a leader who inspires our city to build a pathway to success for all; a leader who will jump start our city with fresh ideas and energy,” Harrell said in a statement.

If elected, Harrell said he would convert the majority of community centers to Empowerment Centers and help create 20 Community Service Officers, working under the goal to serve their local community. He also plans to extended a program allowing graduating students from local high schools to attend South Seattle Community College with free tuition.

Harrell, a former attorney, has served on the Seattle City Council since 2007.

SEATTLE — Mayor Mike McGinn announced Wednesday he is seeking re-election to a second term this year.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” McGinn said in a Q13 FOX News interview after his announcement. “Jobs are up. Overall crime statistics, we’ve reduced it. I want to keep working with the people of Seattle and this city.”

At his news conference earlier in the day, McGinn also said that the city’s budget has been “in the black” every year since 2009.

In a new term, McGinn said, he would focus on job growth, public education, youth violence prevention programs, public safety and the expansion of community colleges.

McGinn, 53, a Long Island, N.Y., native, a lawyer and former Sierra Club state chairman, won election to the Seattle mayor’s office in November 2009 with the support of environmentalists, biking advocates and younger voters. He defeated fellow candidate Joe Mallahan in the general election in a close race, winning just 51 percent of the vote. The previous mayor, Greg Nickels, had been eliminated by finishing third (behind Mallahan and McGinn) in the earlier primary election.

McGinn, who became the 53rd mayor of Seattle, assumed office on Jan. 1, 2010. He had advocated replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a surface street instead of the planned tunnel, but McGinn lost that battle.

Other announced candidates for mayor in 2013 include state Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess and former City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck.

McGinn is married and has three children.

SEATTLE — State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, who led the fight for the state’s same-sex marriage law, announced Wednesday he is forming an exploratory committee to run against Mayor Mike McGinn next year.

At a news conference on Capitol Hill, Murray said, “I seek the office of mayor not to oppose any person, but to propose new leadership  for the city of Seattle.”

Murray said he does not seek the office to become Seattle’s first gay mayor, but to be a mayor “who gets things done.”

Last week, Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess announced he would challenge McGinn in the 2013 mayoral election. The only other announced candidate is real estate broker Charlie Staadecker.

Since 1995, Murray has represented the 43rd Legislative District, which   includes Capitol Hill, the University District, Madison Park and Wallingford.

The question is how much will he run on the issues of gay rights in Seattle?

“Anybody else who’s probably going to run in this race basically shares the same values.,” Murray said. “But I don`t think we share the same experiences as how you accomplish those values.  I don`t think we share the same experiences in leadership styles. And I think this is a time I can bring my own unique experience to bear on this issues that face this city.”

Murray said he will spend the next few months gauging support from neighborhood groups and business and civic leaders.

Tim Burgess wants to be Seattle’s next mayor.

Burgess officially began his campaign Tuesday to become Seattle’s next Mayor when he filed disclosure reports with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission.  

The filing of the campaign compliance reports made Burgess’ entry into the race official after months of rumors and speculation. The campaign also launched its website at www.BurgessForMayor.com.

Burgess said his campaign will focus on protecting and caring for the city’s most vulnerable people; building trust and respect between the people and police officers and shifting policing strategies to focus more on preventing crime; building effective transportation systems, and creating true regional partnerships for better, quicker and environmentally smart mobility; and dramatically improving early childhood interventions and public schools.

In an exclusive interview, Burgess tells Q13 FOX News Political Analyst C.R. Douglas why he decided to run.