Honolulu City Councilman Breene Harimoto said he is foregoing a re-election bid this fall to run for the state Senate 16th district seat.

Harimoto, 59, is a Democrat and a lifelong Pearl City resident. He represents Council District VII (Aiea-Pearl City-Halawa) and is chairman of the Council Transportation Committee, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The 16th Senate District encompasses Pearl Harbor, Aiea and Pearl City. The seat is held by Sen. David Ige who is challenging Gov. Neil Abercrombie for the Democratic nomination for governor this year.

Prior to being elected to the Council in 2010, Harimoto served eight years as an elected member of the state Board of Education.

Harimoto is the executive director of a nonprofit and manages a community center.