ST. PETERSBURG-- Former City Council Member Rene Flowers wants to stay in politics, but she said she isn't going to run for mayor.

Flowers lost her bid for County Commissioner District 3 by about 20,000 votes this month to Nancy Bostock. Immediately after, Flowers' name was kicked around as a potential mayoral candidate.

Flowers said she was approached by many supporters and one even offered to launch her campaign for her, but she isn't interested.

"I am not running," she said. "I said I was not going to do that and I am going to keep my word."

Flowers said she will likely spend the 2009 election helping candidates with their campaigns.

"I'm going to have my eyes open for what opportunities will be out there for me. I don't want to get out of politics," she added

Flowers said she already knows who she is backing for mayor, but won't tell until that person formerly announces their candidacy. She did give a hint. It isn't Amscot executive Deveron Gibbons or Council Chairman Jamie Bennett.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer