BY WILL JONES

Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

Richmond Del. Dwight C. Jones remains mum on whether he's running for mayor, but  for at least part of Monday there was an indication in cyberspace to count him in.

For a while, the Web site www.dwightjonesformayor.com was active, although apparently still under design, with a photo of the delegate. By midnight, the Web address was no longer working.

The site had links to join and to contribute to the campaign, among other things -- but the links only led back to the site's home page.

Much of the site's text was not in English.

In an interview, Jones said he expects to make an announcement this week but declined to give specifics. "I don't want you to scoop it," he said.

The parts of the Web site in English announced "Dwight Jones for Mayor '08" and included the slogan "Building a Better Richmond," as well as the city logo. Later, the logo was updated to show a bridge connecting two areas of a city. The site said it was paid for by "Dwight Jones for Mayor."

Jones is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m.Tuesday to the Richmond Crusade for Voters at the Military Retiree's Club, 2220 Chamberlayne Avenue.

Jones, 60, has represented the General Assembly's 70th District since 1994. He is chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and pastor of First Baptist Church on Decatur Street in South Richmond.

So far, the announced candidates for mayor are former 8th District City Councilwoman J.M. "Jackie" Jackson and Paul Goldman, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Mayor L. Douglas Wilder.

Wilder has hinted that he may seek a second term. City Council President William J. Pantele declined today to discuss his plans. The election is Nov. 4.

The filing deadline for candidates is June 10. As of today, Jackson and Goldman had partial filings. All candidates must to submit petitions with at least 500 signatures.

"It's almost May 1. That doesn't give them much time," General Registrar J. Kirk Showalter said of prospective candidates.

Contact Will Jones at wjones@timesdispatch.com