State Sen. Maida Coleman just made a stunning announcement at the Board of Elections: She is not running in the Democratic primary for mayor, suggesting that Mayor Francis Slay helped put in a stalking-horse candidate to confuse her supporters.

Just before Coleman was about to file today, another candidate — attorney Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman – filed for the Democratic primary. (See earlier post)

In an impromptu press conference at election headquarters, Maida Coleman said she would not be a “court jester in King Slay’s court.”

“Obviously, someone has determined that Maida Coleman is a real threat to Francis Slay,” Coleman told reporters.

Instead, Coleman said she will seek to file as an independent, setting her up to take on Slay in the April general election.

A Slay spokesman at election headquarters adamantly denied that the mayor’s campaign had any role in place Watson-Wesley Coleman in the race.