INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A top Republican state senator says he has decided he won't try to become the next mayor of Indianapolis.

Sen. Jim Merritt said Tuesday he had given careful deliberation of a campaign for mayor, but that the four-month-long legislative session starting in January would prevent him from being able to hit the ground running ahead of next November's election.

Merritt was first elected to the state Senate in 1990 and is the majority caucus chairman.

No prominent Republicans have started campaigns to replace GOP Mayor Greg Ballard, who announced month that he wouldn't seek election to a third term in 2015. 

Former U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett is the only current Democratic candidate after state Rep. Ed DeLaney dropped out a couple weeks ago.