Former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck says he may run for mayor in 2013.

"I am seriously thinking about Seattle's future in a way that I have never thought of it in the past," he said. "It's two years out, so it's a little early to be making announcements."

There was wide speculation that Steinbrueck would run for mayor after he stepped down from the City Council in 2007. A Facebook group in 2009 called "Peter Steinbrueck, for the love of Seattle, RUN FOR MAYOR!" attracted hundreds who hoped to recruit him.

In the end, Steinbrueck decided to accept a year-long architecture fellowship at Harvard University. But even as he left town, he hinted he might be back for the 2013 race.

As a citizen activist and then two-term City Councilmember, Steinbrueck focused often on land-use, fighting to preserve industrial land and limit building heights downtown. He was often a pointed critic of the Greg Nickels administration.

Steinbrueck's father, Victor Steinbrueck, is known for his work in land use, as well: fighting for almost a decade to save the Pike Place Market.

For years, speculation in political circles was that Steinbrueck's wife didn't want him to run. He wouldn't comment directly about personal matters, but said Friday that he and his wife were getting a divorce.

Tension between family and public life "often is unavoidable," he said, adding: "family and personal matters have always been important in my decision-making."

Since he has been back in town, Steinbrueck has made a few appearances in political life, including moderating a City Council candidate forum this summer. "There's a lot of talk going on around town," he said. "I've been hearing a lot of dissatisfaction, frankly, a lot of frustrations."

The right time for an announcement, he suggested, might be in about six months.

Others who have been mentioned as possible mayoral candidates include, state Sen. Ed Murray, former King County Executive Ron Sims, as well as city council members Tim Burgess, Sally Clark, Richard Conlin, and Bruce Harrell.