Joe Reardon, the two-term mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., will announce today that he will not seek a third term this spring, The Star has learned.

UPDATE: Reardon confirmed the decision in a tweet, and a letter to supporters.

"It was not an easy decision," the letter says.

"My decision, though, is a personal one. I have a family at home that I love very much. It is important to me that I spend more time with them. My two sons are growing up much too quickly."

EARLIER:

Reardon's decision will trigger a scramble for the office. Among the candidates expected to seek the seat are county commissioners Ann Murguia, Mark Holland and Nathan Barnes, who has already filed.

Other candidates also could surface. The primary election is Feb. 26 and the general election is April 2. The filing deadline is noon on Jan. 22.

Reardon's reason for not seeking a third term and his future plans were not known this morning.

But he would go out on something of a high note, given the county's robust economic growth during his two terms and the city's selection by Google as the site for the company's ambitious Google fiber project.

Reardon was named 2012 Mayor of the Year by the Kansas Mayors Association. He holds a law degree from KU.