Auckland councillor Cameron Brewer has decided against seeking the National Party's nomination in Tamaki.
Mr Brewer said via Twitter last night that he believed he could "do more for the centre-right at council".
Earlier this week, Mr Brewer said he was considering seeking the nomination but that many people had advised him to stay on the city council.
"I'm very conscious of the commitment I gave Orakei voters just 12 months ago... Walking away from that doesn't sit easily with me," he said at the time.
The sitting MP in the National stronghold, former Rangitoto College principal Allan Peachey, is stepping down because of illness.