An ISU student has decided not to run for Ames mayor. He is instead backing a different ISU student who is running for the Ames City Council.

Pete Karagianis, senior in English, said he is not joining the race for mayor.

He said he wants to conserve student resources and back Ryan Doll, senior in political science, who is running for the 3rd Ward seat on the council.

“I want to focus on getting Doll elected,” he said. “I think he has a good shot.”

Karagianis said another reason he isn’t running is because two strong candidates — Ann Campbell and Jon Shelness — have announced their campaigns.

“When I first considered running, it was unclear who else would be running and I thought it might be unopposed, but now there are two good candidates that will take Ames in a good direction,” he said.

Karagianis said he is interested in running for the 4th Ward seat on the council in the 2007 election.