Colorado Springs City Council President Randy Helms announced in a statement Friday morning that he will not seek reelection in April.

Helms has represented District 2 on the council for the last four years. He has been the council president for the last two years after spending more than a year as the president pro tem.

In an interview Friday, Helms said he had known he would not run for election again for almost a year. Helms, who turned 68 this year, said the full-time demands of the council schedule had reached a point where it had been difficult to spend time with his family.

“Now, I want to dedicate more time to my family, especially our grandchildren, and to cherish the moments that this next chapter of life offers me and my family. I have spent my adult life serving our nation and community, but being present for these precious moments in their lives is important to us,” Helms said in the statement.

Six of the nine seats on the Colorado Springs City Council will be up for election on April 1. Helms’ announcement guarantees that at least two of the district seats will be filled by a new representative.

Helms is a retired Air Force colonel and graduate of the Air Force Academy who moved back to Colorado Springs in 2015. Helms ran for the council position in 2021 as a conservative candidate focused on supporting and attracting businesses.

As the council president for the last two years, Helms said his biggest new responsibility was deciding when issues would come up for a vote with the council.

Helms’ role as the council president has been especially visible during the debate about Ford Amphitheater, which falls within his district. On Tuesday, Helms and Mayor Yemi Mobolade led a listening session where hundreds of people came out to share issues with the amphitheater. One of Helms’ neighbors spoke during the event about the noise from the concerts reaching their area.

Helms said he stood by the decisions he’d made on council so far and was ready for more big decisions during his final few months in office.

“In the military, you’re only in these command positions for a few years so you know your time will come and close. Just because it’s ending does not affect whatsoever my decision making,” Helms said.

Helms’ statement said he planned to continue being an active member and supporter of the city. When asked if he would run for office again, Helms said he had no desire for it.

Council member Yolanda Avila will not be able to run for reelection in District 4 because of the city term limits. The city charter prevents a council member from serving more than two consecutive terms.

Dave Donelson, representing District 1, and Nancy Henjum, representing District 5, both confirmed to The Gazette this week that they were planning to run for reelection to the City Council.

Council members Michelle Talarico and Mike O’Malley have not publicly stated whether or not they will be seeking a second term.

The filing period for candidates running for City Council opens at 8 a.m. on Dec. 31 and closes at 5 p.m. on Jan. 21. Candidates for office must be United States citizens who are at least 25 years old, have lived in Colorado Springs for at least one year and currently live in the district they would represent.