Update: Teresa Tomlinson gradually will withdraw as Midtown director to run for Columbus mayor

Teresa Tomlinson made it official today: She's running for mayor of Columbus.

And as she hits the campaign trail, the executive director of the neighborhood revitalization nonprofit MidTown Inc. gradually will reduce her involvement in that organization in the next few months. The group will be headed by an interim director, Frank S. Etheridge III, a retired SunTrust Bank president and current president of the MidTown board.

Tomlinson, an attorney, this morning filed her "Declaration of Intent to Accept Campaign Contributions" for the 2010 race.

Her campaign committee co-chairs are her husband, attorney Wade “Trip” Tomlinson, and Audrey Tillman, executive vice president and director of corporate services of Aflac. Her fundraising co-chairs are Sam Wellborn, a retired CB&T Bank president and current Georgia Department of Transportation board member, and Sam Mitchell, a Columbus High School graduate, former professional basketball player and NBA coach, and co-founder of the SaMarc Dream and Achieve Foundation.

Her campaign treasurer is Ed Sprouse, a partner in the law firm Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker and Ford P.C.

Tomlinson said she will build on the successes of Mayor Jim Wetherington’s administration, focusing on fighting crime, building grassroots support, facilitating economic development and improving citizen services.

Her announcement today included endorsements from George Jeter, a retired retired Aflac executive, and Ronzell Buckner , owner of Skipper's Seafood Restaurant on Buena Vista Road.

Her campaign's Web site is www.teresatomlinson.com and its e-mail address is tomlinsonformayor@gmail.com.