City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell yesterday said he is not going to seek the 5th City Council District seat left vacant by the death of Councilman Duke Bainum on June 9.

Caldwell is a former state representative for Manoa who chose in 2008 to forego a re-election bid in order to run for the 5th Council District — which encompasses Manoa, parts of Makiki, Kaimuki and Kapahulu — when Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi decided to run against Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Hannemann tapped Caldwell to be his second-in-command.

Kobayashi remains the most well-known of nine candidates who have registered for the special election.

Deadline for candidates to file for the election is Thursday.

Ballots will be mailed to voters in mid-July and must be received by the city clerk's office by 6 p.m. on Aug. 7.

Caldwell said it's too early to speculate if he will run for mayor if Hannemann chooses to run for governor next year.