As the political chatter begins over next year’s election, one name that repeatedly gets tossed into the rumor mill is Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr., the former Baltimore City councilman who gave up his council seat when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor two years ago.

A phone call to Mitchell helped to explain why: He readily admitted that he has not ruled out running for a seat in the Maryland General Assembly. That’s politician-speak that means he’s testing the waters before officially declaring a candidacy. “I am going to look long and hard at that option,” he said, adding that he plans to discuss the matter with family and friends. “Quite frankly, I do miss public service.”

Mitchell lives in the 44th district that’s currently represented by Sen. Verna L. Jones and Dels. Keith E. Haynes, Ruth M. Kirk and Melvin L. Stukes. All are Democrats. Mitchell did not say whose seat he’s eyeing.

While Mayor Sheila Dixon decisively beat Mitchell and other contenders in the 2007 Democratic primary, Mitchell did garner 24 percent of the vote. And Mitchell’s political roots run deep — his great-uncle was the late Parren J. Mitchell, the first African-American member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland.

But Mitchell suffered several setbacks during his last campaign.