He was a last-minute entry into the Vienna mayor's race. Now, Mayor David Nohe has had a change of heart.

Nohe issued a notice withdrawing as a candidate for election to what would have been his fifth term as mayor.

Nohe told WTAP the distraction of an election would have not served the people of the third senate district, to which he also was elected in 2010.

he has served both as mayor and state senator since last year, and has been commuting to and from charleston during legislative sessions, spending part of his time at the Vienna city building.

After winning election to the Senate, Nohe had said he had no plans to run for re-election as mayor this year. But he filed to run for that office again just before the filing deadline in late January.

In describing his 11th hour decision Thursday, Nohe said "My heart overruled my senses".

Jack Roush and current City Recorder Randall Rapp are the remaining mayoral candidates.