Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki ended any speculation that he would not run for a second term.

Purzycki will kick off his campaign for a second term with an event at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on Feb. 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The mayor emerged as the top vote-getter in a crowded field in gaining his first term. He had formerly served as the head of the Riverfront Development Corp.

The primary election, which is tantamount to a general election in heavily Democratic Wilmington, will be held in mid-September.

During Purzycki’s first term, hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into the riverfront and downtown areas as well as other areas of the city.

Market Street now has hundreds of apartments that have attracted younger people who like easier access to transit services and employers. New restaurants and watering holes are also in evidence.

Chemours signed a long-term lease at the DuPont building in downtown.

Purzycki brought in a Chicago Police official Robert Tracy as Police Chief. The city has seen a decline in what had been one of the highest homicide rates in the nation.

Wilmington continues to have high poverty and youth homicide rates.

The city also has a half a million square feet of empty offices after long-term downsizing efforts by Bank of America.