While she has loved her experience on the City Council and vows to make a return when her children are older and there are fewer demands on her as a mother, Kathleen Usler won’t be seeking a second term as the Ward 7 representative.

Usler is the second incumbent council member to announce they won’t be running this year. Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson, who is completing her third term, announced earlier this month that she is a candidate for the House District 21 seat. That sets her up in a primary with incumbent Eileen Naughton for the Democratic nomination.

Meanwhile, Steve McAllister, 36, of 58 Viewesta Road, has announced his candidacy. In an interview Tuesday, McAllister said he has been “eying” a run for the seat for some time and reached out to Usler Monday to say he had made the decision to run. McAllister regularly attends council meetings and said he has a good understanding of how the council operates.

“I could hit the ground running,” he said. “I know the departments and I know the constituent service part.”

He is also familiar with state and regional politics. As the senior manager for the Eastern Region of the U.S. for the United States Chamber of Commerce, McAllister was worked with the state’s congressional delegation on issues related to businesses and the economy.

“I don’t think they’re Republican or Democrat issues,” he said. McAllister is running as a Democrat.

Usler, who has been heavily involved with Greenwood School activities and chaired the school’s PTA, edged out incumbent Charles “CJ” Donovan Jr. in a 2014 Democratic primary. She went uncontested in the 2014 general election.

“It’s been interesting,” Usler said Monday as she and her colleagues gathered to meet. “I’ve learned a lot. Government does move at a lot slower pace.”

She expressed frustration at not being able to help out constituents affected by the Apponaug Circulator project.

“That’s not going to happen over night,” she said of the road construction project. Nonetheless, she said, as the councilperson, it is important that she respond to calls and seek solutions.

The mother of four – the youngest are six and four – feels she should be spending more time at home. She said her husband, who works for National Grid, gets called out at different times and she isn’t comfortable leaving home.

Being the councilwoman also put financial pressures on the family.

“My heart is in the right place, but my wallet can’t take it,” she said.

With her interest in schools, Usler took an active role with Vella-Wilkinson and City Council President Donna Travis in calling for a vote of no confidence in top-level school administrators when it was revealed a Gorton teacher had drawn sexually explicit on the arms of two female students. She said she was pleased that the issue wasn’t buried and that the School Committee retained attorney Vincent Ragosta to investigate the matter. The council went on to subpoena Ragosta’s report that finally, almost 10 months after it was completed, became public.

“It’s important when it comes to our children,” she said.

She isn’t endorsing a successor at this point, but offers the following advice to whoever may be running for the office: “Do due diligence and return calls from constituents.”

McAllister attended Cedar Hill School, Winman and Toll Gate. He is a graduate of Saint Anselm College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and the University of New Hampshire, where he earned a master’s in public administration.

“I am running to ensure Ward 7 residents have safe, strong neighborhoods, receive exceptional city services and have responsible, fiscally sound budgets that promote job growth,” he said in a press release.

McAllister is a member of the Board of Commissioners of Rhode Island Housing, which helps connect Rhode Islanders with opportunities to buy or rent safe, healthy and affordable homes. He also serves on the Warwick Sewer Review Board and is a past board member of the Pawtuxet River Authority.

Before joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, McAllister worked for the state of Rhode Island as director of advance in the office of the governor and as a constituent and community liaison for the United States Senate.

McAllister said he has started to build a campaign organization of friends and neighbors. He plans to run the campaign from his home and has kick-started the effort with $3,000. He has scheduled a fundraiser for May 17 at Dave’s Bar and Grill from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a suggested ticket donation of $35.

“Being accessible will be a top priority as I will advocate for everyone in the ward and represent their voice on the council,” McAllister said.

In addition to McAllister, Usler said she has heard that Robert Germani of Chapmans Avenue is considering a run for the seat. Germani couldn’t be reached for comment.