Cullen says campaign decision coming this week

City councillor Alex Cullen said he expects to make a decision this week about the state of his mayoral campaign, amid rumours he plans to drop out of the race and run again in Bay Ward.

Cullen declined to provide an update on the status of his campaign on CBC's Ottawa Morning on Monday, saying those curious "will have to wait."

"There's a decision coming this week and everyone will know then," said Cullen.

Cullen announced he was entering the mayoral race in January, but since then it has become a crowded field, with current mayor Larry O'Brien, former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and fellow councillor Clive Doucet all announcing their candidacy.

Two weeks ago Cullen said he was working to reach fundraising targets but dismissed reports that suggested he might be forced to pull out of the race as "ridiculous."

"If you don't meet those targets, you have to look at options, but I'm not at that stage," Cullen told CBC News on Aug. 20. "I'm running for mayor, that is my plan," he said.

On Sunday Bay Ward candidate Oni Joseph added new fuel to the speculation when she posted a message on her Twitter feed saying Cullen would drop out of the mayor's race and return to Bay Ward.

"Just got a call from Alex Cullen - Alex is running in Bay Ward!" she Tweeted on Sunday morning.

Joseph is one of 10 candidates running in Bay Ward to replace Cullen.

Terry Kilrea, who lost to Cullen in the Bay Ward race in 2006 after he dropped out of the mayoral race, is running again in the ward. Kilrea was the key witness in Mayor O'Brien's influence peddling trial after he alleged O'Brien had promised him a position at the National Parole Board if he quit the race. O'Brien was later cleared of criminal charges.

Other candidates include Greg Ross, who Cullen had earlier endorsed, former Watson executive assistant Mark Taylor and former Kitchissippi Ward councillor Shawn Little.