Richmond School Board Chairman Jeff Bourne this week dropped out of the race for mayor before the contest even began.

After several months of considering a run, Mr. Bourne said Tuesday he decided that the time was not right for him and his family to get “involved in the kind of campaign that would be required.”

Also shouldering the responsibilities of his job as a Virginia deputy attorney general, Mr. Bourne said his wife and two young children “come first with me.” He said he didn’t believe he could make the time commitment needed to run for mayor.

He said he is still mulling whether to seek re-election to the 3rd District seat on the School Board or whether to run for the 3rd District City Council seat that Councilman Chris A. Hilbert would vacate to run for mayor.

Meanwhile, another candidate added his name to the already crowded field of mayoral hopefuls.

Alan Schintzius, a community activist who founded The Camel restaurant and night spot on West Broad Street, joined 11 other candidates who are making plans to run in November to succeed Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

Mr. Schintzius has a long track record of community involvement, including taking part in the effort to create WRIR and other low-power, community-based radio stations.

He also took part in successfully opposing Mayor Jones’ plan to develop a new baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom, including creating and managing the “Shockoe Resistance” Facebook page.

Next week, he will join Mr. Hilbert and eight other candidates at the public forum for mayoral hopefuls that L. Douglas Wilder, a former mayor and governor, will host from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Coburn Hall on the campus of Virginia Union University, 1500 N. Lombardy St.

Others who plan to be on the stage include: Jonathan T. Baliles, 1st District council representative; Jack Berry, retired director of the Downtown booster group Venture Richmond; Lillie Estes, a public housing activist; and Chad Ingold, a Richmond schoolteacher.

Also, Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey, attorney and former member of the House of Delegates; Michelle R. Mosby, council president and 9th District representative; Richard S. “Rick” Tatnall, founder of community uplift group Richmond Replenish LLC; and Bruce Tyler, architect and former 1st District councilman.

One person who will not participate is state Secretary of Administration Levar Stoney, who has all but declared his candidacy. Because he likely would have to resign to run, he has told supporters he wants to wait until closer to the June 14 deadline to file before getting into the race.