AUBURN — City Councilor Joshua Shea said he’ll finish his term, but does not plan to seek re-election this year.

“I see the tiny cog in the giant wheel of government that I am and I recognize I can do more for the community with my magazine,” Shea said. “I can do more working for the film festival. I can do more trying to rebuild the art scene downtown. Those are places I can see a tangible difference that I am making.”

Shea, publisher of Lewiston Auburn Magazine and director of the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, was elected to office in 2011 as one of five people seeking two at-large seats on the council. He was part of a slate of candidates, including Mayor Jonathan LaBonte and Ward 3 Councilor Mary LaFontaine, who wanted to bring a new era of professionalism, energy and positive change to the city.

But now, Shea said, his council colleagues are too concerned with being good guys and inoffensive to make much of a difference.

“Largely, this is not a council that is going to get anything done,” Shea said. “Everybody on that council is so afraid of appearing nasty or of standing up to someone else — myself included. We’re very good at making speeches about nothing.”

Shea said he’s happy to finish the two-year term to which he was elected.

“I enjoy debating tax issues and who should serve on which boards,” Shea said. “And I have really enjoyed my time, very much.”

Shea said the catalyst for his decision came Monday with the council’s consensus to open the Outlet Beach to swimming again this summer, despite concerns about fecal bacteria contamination.

Shea said he would have preferred leaving the beach closed to swimming, rather than risk a swimmer getting sick.

“We can talk about taxes, we debate what makes a good school system, but we were talking about letting people swim in water that could have E. coli in it,” Shea said. “I spent the rest of that meeting just wondering what I’d watched. I worry, No. 1, about citizens’ health. But I worry about the liability aspect.”

But it’s not only about the beach.

“It’s been coming, but this is the last straw for me,” he said.

Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said he’s not convinced Shea won’t end up on the ballot this fall.

“I won’t be convinced until the deadline closes on nomination papers,” LaBonte said. “Josh, in my view, is an ideal city councilor who does his homework and is not afraid to take an unpopular position to get debate started. But I’m sensing some frustration from Josh that we cannot handle big issues.”

Shea said he’s making his decision public now to help steel his resolve.

“I know myself well enough that if I don’t say it, I may not do it,” he said.

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