I got a text from a friend saying that Knoxville Mayor Tim Burchett announced on Hallerin Hill’s Show on WOKI News talk this morning that he was running against Senator Lamar Alexander. I text messaged the Mayor and asked him if he had announced. He replied that no he had not announced.

This afternoon he appeared here on set with John Becker of WBIR. He said he is still thinking and praying about it. When pressed for a time, the Mayor said that he would have to file by January and anticipated the decision then.

Time is not on the Mayor’s side. Qualifying petitions will begin being handed out on November 22, 2013 for the office of County Mayor which will be on the Knox County Ballot in 2014. The primary will be on May 6, 2014 and the general election on August 7, 2014. Should he run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate the primary is also on August 7, 2014 and the general election is November 04, 2014. Click here for the 2014 Election Schedule.

The Mayor has been perceived as a shoo in for re-election as County Mayor with no potential Republican or Democrat opponent. However, the longer he focuses on a larger political aspiration the more the local political piranhas will smell blood in the water. This could make Burchett weaker and more vulnerable for re-election as Mayor in 2014. He needs to make up his mind, before he finds himself at home with no Mayor or Senate gig.