There is considerable speculation this morning about the reelection designs of Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, who’s up citywide this year for what would be a second term in office.

A source told InsiderNJ that Jackson shows no signs of pursuing a second bid, and is convinced Jackson won’t run.

The source said the sense around Jackson’s inner circle over the holidays was that the city’s chief executive wouldn’t be back for a second tour of duty in New Jersey’s capital city. A Murphy Administration landing pad appeared more likely, the source added.

Right now the 2018 field for the May nonpartisan election includes Paul Perez, City Councilman Alex Bethea, and IBM tech Michael Silvestri; with the edge going to Perez, who never stopped campaigning since placing second in the 2014 mayoral election.