After hinting that she may reverse her decision to step down as South Kitsap Commissioner in 2008, Jan Angel said she has not made a firm decision whether to run or not.

“I have gotten calls encouraging me to run,” Angel said on Thursday. “I got three so far today. But I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Meanwhile, one-time Angel booster Monty Mahan, who declared his own candidacy for the post when it appeared she would not run, said her possible re-entry in the race would not change his plans.

Angel announced she would not seek a third term in March. A month later, North Kitsap Commissioner Chris Endresen — who had become Angel’s political rival — announced she would take a job on U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s staff. With Steve Bauer now in Endresen’s spot, Angel feels more positive about her own job.

Angel, a Republican, was first elected in 2000 and won re-election in 2004. She was the only county commissioner to enthusiastically support the construction of a NASCAR facility for the entire life of the project.

Since Angel declared she would not run, no Republican candidate had announced an intention to seek the seat. Mahan, a Democrat, launched his own campaign, despite saying that he would not challenge Angel if she decided to seek another term.

But now that Angel may be back in Mahan is not getting out.

“It’s true that I would not have started my candidacy if Jan was running,” Mahan said. “But I’ve invested too much time and money into this to back down now.”

Mahan issued his own broadside: "Tell Jan I’m coming,” he said.

Another possible Democratic candidate is outgoing Port Orchard Mayor Kim Abel.

“I think about this every day,” Abel said. “I am seriously considering running, although I haven’t come to a decision. And I haven’t set a deadline about when I will decide.”

Angel has been considering a re-entry to the race for several weeks. She said she dropped several hints about doing so during a recent vacation with her husband, Port Orchard realtor Lynn Williams, but he did not take a stand.

“He wouldn’t tell me what to do,” she said. “But he said he would support me in whatever I decision that I make.”

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