CANTON — St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia A. Ritchie will not make an announcement this week about her expected bid for the 118th state Assembly District seat.

"I'm still waiting for pieces to fall into place," she said.

Mrs. Ritchie declined to say what is delaying her announcement. She said May 8 that she'd make a decision in about a week.

At that time, she expected a primary against Jefferson County Legislator Philip N. Reed, Fishers Landing, but he pulled his name from consideration the next day.

Mrs. Ritchie's name resurfaced May 1 when she told party leaders that running in a regular election was appealing. She had announced in March that she was not interested, but has since said she was turned off by running in a shortened special election.

The seat was vacated by Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, who was elected Feb. 26 to represent the 48th state Senate District. Gov. David A. Paterson announced April 14 that he would not call for a special election.

Mrs. Ritchie lost her 2002 bid for the Assembly seat to Mr. Aubertine.

No other Republicans have expressed interest in the seat. Timothy E. Kelly, a Pamelia town councilman, is interested in the Democratic line. So is Massena Police Chief Timmy J. Currier, an independent.

Independent Donald J. Lucas, a Massena businessman, is the only announced candidate.

Candidates can begin circulating petitions June 3 to capture party lines.