State Rep. Michael Merrifield, a Democrat who ran for county commissioner but lost last month, is considering running for the Colorado Springs City Council in April.

Merrifield has his eyes on the District 3 seat now occupied by Councilman Sean Paige, who was appointed after Councilman Jerry Heimlicher resigned Sept. 30, 2009, to move to Tennessee.

“I’m thinking very seriously about it, probably would say I’m leaning toward running,” Merrifield, 63, said today.

The retired teacher said he also thought about running for mayor.

“A number of people asked me if I wanted to … but I wouldn’t want to run against my good friend,” he said, referring to Richard Skorman, a well-known businessman who is mulling a mayoral run.

“We’ve supported each other over the years,” Merrifield said. “I know he’s very seriously considering it, and I think he would be an excellent mayor.”

Council positions are non-partisan.

But Merrifield said it’s “way past time” the City Council, which is comprised almost entirely of Republicans, had a Democrat.

(Paige is registered as unaffiliated, according to the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.)

“It would be good to have some really good debate and discussion on various issues and policies that will help guide the city into the 21^st century,” Merrifield said.

Merrifield, whose last day in the state Legislature is Jan. 11, said a big portion of City Council District 3 is included in House District 18, which he currently represents.

“The people of House District 18 know me, and they know what I stand for and the things I’ve accomplished,” he said. “That’s why it will be advantageous for me to run.”

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.