CALGARY - Liberal MLA Kent Hehr announced he won't file his nomination papers for the mayor's race after seeing his lacklustre showing in a Herald poll Sunday.

Hehr had publicly disclosed donations totalling more than $80,000 and only days ago he released billboards that referred to the bullet that left him a quadriplegic.

The Calgary-Buffalo MLA, who will now return full-time to his provincial job, said he made the decision to leave the crowded race after a sleepless night.

He had scored 4.1 per cent in a Leger poll done for the Herald and CTV.

Wayne Stewart, the former not-for-profit executive who fared even worse in the mayoral survey, said Monday he's staying in the race, despite saying he was unsure a day earlier.

After having tried to position himself as a fiscal conservative and pledging a three-year tax freeze, Stewart told reporters that he will now focus on social issues.

He was formerly CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation. He's spent heavily on billboards and radio ads, but polls suggest he's been unable to gain any traction among the public.

Ald. Ric McIver has a hefty lead in the race to replace Dave Bronconnier. Former CTV anchor Barb Higgins is in second, while business professor Naheed Nenshi is in a distant third.

Today is the day all candidates for mayor, council and school board trustee must declare their intentions and file nomination papers.

Old City Hall is claustrophobically packed with candidates, campaign organizers and petitioners for various causes.

All 14 ward races are expected to be contested, making this the first civic election with no acclamations in recent memory.

It's also the first election since 2001 that features an open mayor's race. Four ward races are also vacant, with McIver (Ward 12), Alds. Bob Hawkesworth (4) and Joe Connelly (6) seeking the mayor's chair, and Joe Ceci (9) retiring.

jmarkusoff@theherald.canwest.com