Seaside’s Mayor Jay Barber affirmed his intention to run for Seaside mayor, the second candidate to do so.

Radio station owner John Chapman did so earlier this month, in his first city election bid.

Barber said his petitions are circulating and he intends to file as soon as he has acquired the signatures required.

A retired college president, foundation director and ordained minister, Barber was appointed mayor in January 2017 after the death of Don Larson the previous month.

Barber and his wife, Jan, have lived full time in Seaside since 2006. He was selected in 2009 to fill the unexpired council term of Gary Diebolt and won election for Ward 1 in 2010 and again in 2014.

At the time of his appointment in 2017, Barber said he did not intend to run for a new term.

Barber said his wife challenged him about two weeks later. “She said, ‘How can you know what you’re going to do two years out?’”

He rethought it and reconsidered, he said, encouraged by the number of people who asked him to continue.

“They challenged me to act early,” he said.

He initially announced his decision in March but has yet to officially file.

Barber said the announcement of Chapman’s run further “motivated” his decision.

Chapman was among candidates seeking to fill Barber’s unexpired council term in early 2017, filled by Steve Wright.

“I like John, but he has no experience in this kind of position,” Barber said Monday.

Councilors Wright, Tita Montero and Dana Phillips also face expired terms at the end of December.

Candidates have until Aug. 28 to file.