City Councilman Rod Tam, whose second and final term ends next year, plans to enter the 2010 race for Honolulu mayor, if there is one.

The race is dependent upon whether Mayor Mufi Hannemann decides to seek higher office. Hannemann has set up an exploratory committee to consider a run at governor and is expected to seek that office next year.

Among those already planning to enter the would-be race for mayor are city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, city Managing Director Kirk Caldwell and City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, whose second and final term also expires next year.

Carlisle and Caldwell say that if Hannemann does not run in 2010, they will seek the office in 2012, when the term is up.

Tam, who represents District 6 (Downtown-Kalihi), had previously declared his intent to seek the office of lieutenant governor. His City Council term ends in 2010, and he is not eligible to run for re-election.

Kenneth Siu, an official with Tam's campaign, said the two-term councilman and former state senator plans to announce his campaign intentions at a ceremony on Dec. 13 in front of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen statue at the Chinese Cultural Plaza in Chinatown.

The campaign plans to focus on issues of economic development, homelessness, rail transit, taxes and Chinatown, among others, Siu said in an e-mail.