Tomah City Council President Pete Peterson announced his intent to seek the mayor’s office on Thursday.

Peterson said that he has been contemplating the move for some time and has received support and numerous requests to seek the office held by Mayor Ed Thompson.

Thompson is a candidate for the 31st state senate seat held by Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma), and has not yet announced if he will seek another term as mayor.

Peterson said that he decided to publicly declare his intentions early so his supporters would be aware of his intentions.

Peterson said that he supports further economic development with the city as a way to increase the tax base and that he wants to be involved with the future of the city.

“Tomah is a wonderful place to live, and I would like to be involved in keeping it a wonderful place to live,” he said. “I am a believer that if you live someplace you should be involved there.”

Peterson is in his first term as alderperson in Tomah’s 4th district. He was elected as the City Council President last April. He also served two and a half terms on the Monroe County Board before he was defeated in a recall election last month, along with eight other county supervisors, for supporting a proposed justice center project.

Peterson is a member of the city’s Long Range Planning Committee and said that he is excited about recent developments with the railroad property and proposed development.

Thompson said Thursday that he will likely make a decision on his future in the mayor’s office next month.

“I am getting ready to make this senate run, which will be a very busy time for me,” Thompson said. “I doubt if I will (run for mayor), but I haven’t thrown out the possibility of doing it yet. I will make that decision in December.”