AUBURN – Two city councilors are considering runs for the mayor’s job a day after incumbent John Jenkins announced he would not seek a full term in that position.

Ward 3 Councilor Eric Samson and Ward 1’s Dick Gleason both took out nomination petitions for the mayor’s chair Thursday morning.

“I would not have run against John,” Samson said Thursday. “I’ve been thinking about a run for mayor, and it seems like a logical progression after two terms as a councilor. But I was going to wait at least another term, until he stepped down.”

Samson, a deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriff, was elected to the City Council in 2004 and again to a one-year term in 2006.

Samson said he hasn’t officially decided to seek the mayor’s job. He had already decided to give up his Ward 3 seat, and had collected enough signatures to place his name on the ballot for one of two at-large City Council seats.

Candidates for the mayor’s seat must submit a nomination petition signed by 100 registered Auburn voters.

“If I get enough signatures and if I decide to run for mayor, I can just withdraw from the at-large race,” Samson said.

Gleason announced in July that he was not going to seek re-election for his Ward 1 seat, citing time and financial constraints.

He said Thursday he is willing to rearrange his private responsibilities to claim the mayor’s job.

“It would be quite an honor to serve, and it will be a true challenge to run,” Gleason said. “I need to make sure I can make it work, but I think I might be able to do it.”

Gleason is president of Gleason Media Services, which owns and operates five radio stations in central Maine. He was elected to a special one-year term on the council last November, running unopposed to succeed Bethel Shields.

Candidates have until Aug. 23 to collect and submit nomination signatures. All 15 elected city positions are up for election this November. That includes the seven School Committee members, seven city councilors and the mayor. All are for full two-year terms.

Candidates for the School Committee and council need signatures from 25 registered Auburn voters living within their ward. At-large candidates for council or School Committee seats need signatures from 25 Auburn voters living anywhere in the city.