Could a local chowderhouse mogul give Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels a run for his money? We may find out.

Duke Moscrip, the owner of six Duke's Chowderhouse restaurants, is inching toward a campaign for mayor of Seattle.

Moscrip has been calling around town in recent days trying to line up political consultants and advisers.

Reached by phone in Los Angeles, where he's attending the Pac-10 basketball tournament to cheer on the UW Huskies, Moscrip said he's "inclined to run" but is still thinking it over. He said he expects to make a decision in a week or so.

"I think Seattle needs a change. I think we need new leadership, effective leadership," said Moscrip, pointing to the city's response to the December snowstorm as an example of voter frustration with Nickels, who is running for a third term.

Moscrip said he'd bring a business background to City Hall. He has a fledgling Facebook page to talk about his ideas.

After working as a stock broker, Moscrip joined two partners to buy Ray's Boathouse in 1973, transforming what was a casual Ballard fish-and-chips joint into a fine seafood restaurant. He later went his own way and created the Duke's Chowderhouse chain.

Moscrip lives in West Seattle above his restaurant's Alki location.

He's still working on his talking points for a campaign and promises to have a lot more to say if he gets into the race. "We are gonna have a lot of fun doing it," he predicted.

Other possible Nickels challengers are former NBA player James Donaldson, environmental leader Michael McGinn and former Seattle City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck.