Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan has decided not to run for mayor, spokesman Eric Herman said this morning.

Houlihan, 67, who told me in April that he was interested in the job whether or not Daley ran again, has changed his mind “after much serious thought and consideration.”

So whom will the assessor support? The statement from Herman (see below) doesn’t offer up a name, but it does say that Houlihan will take into account the candidates’ positions on the 2010 assessor’s race. Houlihan supports Forrest Claypool, the independent candidate, against Joe Berrios, the Democratic Party’s candidate.

Rahm Emanuel, one of the more prominent potential candidates, has not said yet where he stands on the assessor’s race. But another possible candidate, Congressman Mike Quigley, told me earlier this week that he is supporting Claypool, adding that he is disappointed in Toni Preckwinkle, the candidate for Cook County Board President, for supporting Berrios.

Here’s Houlihan’s statement:

"After much serious thought and consideration, Assessor Houlihan has decided not to run for Mayor of Chicago in 2011.

In his nearly 14 years as Assessor, Jim Houlihan has fought for tax reform and transparency. He stood up for homeowners by creating and securing passage of the 7% Expanded Homeowner Exemption; he made the Assessor’s office more responsive to taxpayers with innovations like online assessment appeals and automatic renewal of the senior and homeowner exemptions. Just a few weeks ago, his office won a prestigious award for its ground-breaking work in response to the foreclosure crisis.

Assessor Houlihan looks forward to working with the next mayor on tax and school funding reform, improving our schools and the safety of our neighborhoods, and reducing crime. In deciding whom to support for mayor, he will look at the candidates’ positions on these issues as well as their positions on the 2010 Assessor’s race."