First he says he won’t run, now he says he might … do I smell hypocrisy?

Marketing consultant John Marz promised in January he would be only a caretaker if the Henderson City Council appointed him to the Ward 3 seat once held by Kathleen Vermillion.

That commitment helped him win the votes of Mayor Andy Hafen and council members Sam Bateman and Debra March. Gerri Schroder voted against Marz because she wanted a council member who would run, such as contenders Sean Fellows or Cathy Rosenfield; she didn't want a caretaker.

Marz, owner of Marz and Co., is rethinking that promise and now may run.

"I have not decided," he said Friday. "I am considering it."

If he decides to run, it makes his prior promise smack of hypocrisy.

"I made a commitment to you that I will not run for re-election," he said in January. He explained he didn't have enough time to run his business, do his job as a councilman and campaign at the same time.

In March, he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "I believe in a fair and equitable election. I believe anybody who has been appointed would have a big advantage."

When his term ends June 2013, he's done, he said.

When asked to address the apparent hypocrisy of his potential flip-flop and the fundraising advantage he receives running as an incumbent, Marz said, "I'm not prepared to talk about it because I haven't made up my mind."

Councilman Bateman, who had wanted a special election, said if Marz runs, "At the end of the day, he'll have to explain that."

Bateman didn't take a position one way or another on Marz going back on a promise but said, "He's a great guy and doing a great job."

A letter is circulating from some powerful people telling the mayor and council members "now is not the time to change the makeup of the City Council. Under your leadership, significant progress has been made. However, you and your colleagues will be faced with major budgetary issues, labor negotiations and development challenges. We strongly believe that the team you have put together will address these and every other challenge."

In other words, don't even bother to have an election next spring. We like things just the way they are. Nobody need file for mayor or the Ward 3 seat.

Some of the 23 whose names are typed at the bottom of the Oct. 2 version are among Henderson's power brokers: former Mayor Jim Gibson, Station Casinos' Scott Nielson, tow yard operator Bobby Ellis, former County Commissioner Jay Bingham, attorney Jeff Burr and Key Reid, son of you-know-who.

Fellows, a Republican, ran for the Assembly in 2008 but lost in District 29 against Democrat April Mastroluca. Fellows, the director of government affairs for the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, said he will run whether Marz, a Democrat, runs or not.

"Personally, I was shocked to hear he was even considering it," Fellows said. "If he can change his mind on something this big and this quickly, what other vow that he's willing to make is he so willing to break?"

Beverly Daly-Dix, one of the four finalists, doesn't plan on running next year and wishes Marz well if he runs.

"He comes across as statesmanlike and is a good person," Daly-Dix said.

Marz said he brought some unity to the council.

"I come from a business background and am the only one on the council with that background."

Marz will have some explaining to do if he decides to run for his seat after promising he wouldn't. It may be a tough sell, and it's pretty easy for Fellows to make it an issue of hypocrisy, maybe even deceit.

But remember, John Marz never promised he wouldn't run for something else. If he's that good, maybe he should.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.