Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels has announced that he will run for mayor this year and hold a campaign kickoff this week.

Samuels, who represents the Fifth Ward and was first elected to the council in 2003, had said he was pondering a run for mayor, after incumbent R.T. Rybak announced that he won't seek a fourth term. In an e-mail, Samuels said his kickoff event will take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the A Loft Hotel.

After Rybak's announcement late last month, Council Member Betsy Hodges and former council president Jackie Cherryhomes said they would seek the office.

STAFF REPORT