Former Bend Chamber of Commerce Director Mike Schmidt, who announced last month his intention to run for Bend City Council, said Tuesday that he would not seek election after all.

Schmidt, 64, planned to run for the seat now held by former Bend Mayor Oran Teater, who has not said whether he will seek re-election.

But Schmidt, who has lived in Bend for five years, said his wife was offered her “dream job” last week, a human resources position with her former California-based employer, Santa Cruz Seaside, a boardwalk amusement park in Santa Cruz, Calif.

“We’ve already started packing because she needs to be on the job a week from Monday,” Schmidt said.

He said the job offer was unexpected but that the couple has family and friends in the area, which made the prospect of moving much more attractive.

Despite his announcement last month, Schmidt’s candidacy was not official. Council candidates cannot begin collecting signatures supporting their petitions to run for office until June 2.

That process must be completed by Aug. 24.

Schmidt said he had collected about $2,900 in campaign contributions, which he had already begun returning.

“About $2,100 just came in the last couple of days, and I have already returned about $800,” he said.

He said he’ll return the rest of the contributions this week.

“I hope the community finds a candidate that is open-minded, that is looking forward and doesn’t carry some of the baggage with some of the partisan stuff we’ve seen, especially at the national level,” he said.

Schmidt, who also has served as the president and CEO of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, was the executive director of the Bend Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2008.

Schmidt also has served on several local boards and government committees, including the Leadership Bend Foundation, Bend 2030 Project Management team, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and the U.S. Highway 97 North Corridor Project steering committee.

In recent years, Schmidt has focused on public transportation and served as chairman of Citizens for Bend Area Transit, which backed a property tax initiative to fund the bus system. Voters rejected the measure in 2008.

Three council positions will appear on the November ballot, including Teater’s. Also up for grabs are the positions held by Mark Capell, who was elected in 2006, and Jodie Barram, who was appointed in November 2008 after the death of Councilor Bill Friedman.