BY GORDON R. FRIEDMAN AND MOLLY HARBARGER

As he walked off stage Thursday after finishing a speech during which he was heckled, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler muttered, "I cannot wait for the next 24 months to be over."

The comment suggests Wheeler may not seek re-election, or at least that he is frustrated with the job of being mayor. The aside echoes a comment Wheeler made during an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive in July, when he said being mayor is "not a fun job."

Wheeler's remark came after his speech to the Oregon Health Forum, the educational arm of The Lund Report, a healthcare news publication. He was speaking about homelessness and health policy, but frequently riffed off-script.

Later Thursday morning, Wheeler released a statement downplaying the significance of his off-the-cuff remark and said he has not decided whether to seek re-election.

"If you know me, you know I mutter quite a bit. Not one of my most redeeming qualities," the statement said. "I will make a decision next year with my family if I am running for re-election."

The mayor's remark comes near the end of a particularly difficult week for Wheeler at City Hall.

During its Wednesday meeting, the City Council narrowly rejected Wheeler's plan to give himself new powers to restrict protests in some cases, a proposal he and his top aides lobbied for aggressively. During the same meeting, the mayor sharply criticized a half-dozen City Hall regulars -- many of whom taunt and jeer at Wheeler during the weekly council meetings -- after they criticized his Housing Bureau's decision to purchase an apartment complex.

It is a common refrain among City Hall staffers, and even elected officials, that being mayor is a thankless, winless job. Credit is not given to Wheeler when due, officials complain, yet the mayor finds himself blamed for anything and everything that residents dislike.

That difficulty is partly why Portland has had three consecutive one-term mayors: Tom Potter, Sam Adams and Charlie Hales.

Wheeler has said that trend should cease, but has not committed himself to seeking another term.

"In order to do the right thing and to provide the right long-term view for the city, it might mean you're only in politics for a little while," Wheeler said at a conference of mayors in February. "And I made a decision that that's OK with me."

Yet nearly a year ago to the day, he said during public remarks at the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce that Portland needs "consistency" -- and two-term mayor.

At the time, Wheeler was taking pain medication after fracturing several ribs in a cycling accident. He joked with the audience that his judgment may be affected.

"If I declare I want to run for re-election today, it's totally the drugs," he said.