In April he told the Post, “I was strongly considering it.”

Labor’s candidate Ursula Stephens says she and her party are factoring in a “high profile independent” to run.

But Cr Kettle said it won’t be him.

“It’s not a possibility” he said, when contacted on Monday at the NSW Local Government Conference in Coffs Harbour.

The Goulburn Liberal Party member and former Alby Schultz staffer indicated earlier this year he could run if the Coalition didn’t resolve a looming showdown between Liberal incumbent Pru Goward and The Nationals’ Katrina Hodgkinson.

Some terse words from the then Premier Barry O’Farrell and some deal-making forced the Nats to withdraw from Goulburn.

The backflip also prompted Cr Kettle to abandon his intentions.

“My priority is my job as mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree and I believe I have a lot more to offer in that role, especially in the local government reform process,” Cr Kettle said.

“We’re (the council) starting to kick a lot of goals and it’s vital we have leadership stability.”

Cr Kettle wished Dr Stephens well in her bid to wrest the revised seat of Goulburn from Ms Goward who has held it since 2007.

“It’s going to make for a very interesting campaign,” he said.

“Now that the ALP has selected a candidate of some note, the opportunity is there for Goulburn to be the big winner.”