Mrs Amundsen announced her intention to stand for mayor three months ago, but now is just vying for a seat at the council table.
She said today her decision was not taken lightly.
‘‘Serving my community has always been at the heart of what I do and is what led me to council nine years ago.
"In light of the growing mayoral candidate pool, I have realised that what’s best for the city, and indeed myself, is to not run for mayor in this election.’’
There were a number of ‘‘worst-case scenarios in the mayoral candidate pool’’ who have a chance of winning, she believed.
‘‘I do not want my running to contribute to any of them being successful. This would not be in the best interests of Invercargill and Bluff.’’
Mrs Amundsen asked Invercargill residents to think carefully about how they place their mayoral vote in October’s election.
‘‘Invercargill has a real opportunity for a positive outcome.’’
There are now eight candidates for mayor: incumbent Sir Tim Shadbolt, deputy mayor Nobby Clark, councillors Ian Pottinger and Darren Ludlow, Bluff Community Board member Noel Peterson, former NZ First list MP Ria Bond, former Invercargill deputy mayor Toni Biddle and Tik Tok influencer Tom Morton.
