As many expected, Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan is jumping into the 2009 mayoral race. And he’ll use public financing, his e-mail announcement said. He’s currently looking for volunteers and donations:

“The Cadigan for Mayor campaign will use public financing, so we will need many volunteers. If you can lend your time, energy and talent to the campaign please contact us at cadiganformayor@gmail.com. “In addition, during the exploratory period, the campaign may accept seed money contributions of up to $100 from registered voters in the City of Albuquerque.”

Cadigan, a two-term West Side councilor, will make the announcement tomorrow at Desert Paper & Envelope Co., which he said in an e-mail “exemplifies” the type of small, local business that will “grow and sustain” Albuquerque in the future.

Cadigan’s announcement follows that of former New Mexico Senate Pro Tem Richard Romero, who announced his candidacy last week and is also planning to tap public financing.

Other names we often hear as potential candidates in the 2009 mayoral race are City Councilors Debbie O’Malley and Ken Sanchez.

And, of course, Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez hasn’t said whether or not he’s seeking what would be a fourth term, although he said in November that he was “absolutely” thinking about it, and he held a fund-raiser in December.

Maybe he’s waiting to see how the Obama administration shakes out. As we’ve seen, things can change on a dime, and maybe Chavez wants some time away from New Mexico. Or maybe he’s waiting to see how many people jump into the mayoral race. The more who enter the race, the better for him, given his name recognition.