Bill Staniford, former CEO of PropertyShark, is no longer planning to run for mayor.
Staniford, who is now the head of real estate data firm Urbint, pulled out of the race this week, Crain’s reported. He told the publication that his company may be doing work with the city.
“The last thing I want is some appearance of impropriety,” Staniford said.
Staniford announced he was considering running in July 2016. He said the city’s homelessness problem, deteriorating infrastructure and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s poor relationship with the police were the reasons he was considering running.
The 47-year-old left his position at PropertyShark in 2010, after it was bought by California-based Yardi Systems. That same year, he was linked to Anna Chapman, a Russian spy who pretended to be a real estate executive before getting caught by the FBI and deported.
Had he continued with the bid, Staniford would have joined Cushman & Wakefield executive and fellow Republican Paul Massey in the race.
Developer Don Peebles has also expressed interest in running for mayor. [Crain’s] — Miriam Hall