His decision leaves nine hopefuls to compete for eight slots in the Aug. 4 primary. Four candidates will be elected in November.

Pickering, a former mayor who has served nearly two decades on the council, acknowledged that his decision will likely send shockwaves across Westland’s political landscape.

“I just felt that at this time, it was time for me to move on and allow other people to have an opportunity to serve the city on the Westland City Council,” he said.

Pickering became the third incumbent to decide against a re-election bid. Veteran council members Cheryl Graunstadt and Robert Stottlemyer already had announced their decisions not to run.

Only one of four incumbents, Dewey Reeves, remains in the race. Other candidates include former Councilman Kenneth Mehl; return candidates Christine Cicirelli Bryant, Hal Dunn, Sam Durante and Mark Rodriguez; and first-time election-seekers Janet Frederick-Wilson, Adam Hammons and Meriem Kadi.

Even before Pickering was first elected to public office as mayor in 1982-85, he had previously worked 10 years as a supervisor and department head in the Westland Parks and Recreation Department. By any standard, he has been a fixture in city government.

Pickering didn’t rule out a return bid for city office in the future. But he described himself as satisfied that voters have a qualified field of candidates, without him, for this year’s election.

He said he will actively campaign for Bryant. Pickering said he didn’t decide against a re-election bid in hopes of boosting Bryant’s candidacy. He said he believes he could have helped her even if he had remained in the running.

“As of right now, she is the only candidate I am supporting for election to the city council,” he said.

Pickering ran for the mayoral post two years ago but was defeated by Mayor William Wild, who, barring a write-in campaign, is unopposed in his November election bid.

Pickering said he will continue working hard for the city through the end of the year, when his current four-year term will expire. Even after that, he said he plans to remain active in a city he has served in numerous capacities for decades.

“I won’t disappear,” he said.