NEW YORK -- The top government officials from the areas trying to lure the Montreal Expos won't attend presentations this week to baseball's committee evaluating the team's future.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams and DC Council chairman Linda Cropp canceled plans to travel to Phoenix, as did Vera Katz, the mayor of Portland, Ore.

They all cited concerns about the possibility of war with Iraq.

"I'm not going to this because should we enter hostilities, I don't want to be out of the state," Warner said.

Northern Virginia's delegation will include Rep. Tom Davis and representatives of the Virginia Baseball Authority. Washington's group includes Deputy Mayor Eric Prince and Council members Harold Brazil and Jack Evans, and Portland's includes city Planning Director Gil Kelley and City Project Manager David Logsdon.

Bob DuPuy, chief operating officer in the commissioner's officer, heads the baseball delegation, which includes Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

The District of Columbia presents first on Thursday, followed by Portland. The Northern Virginia group meets with the committee Friday. The presentations will be made at Bank One Ballpark.

DuPuy said last week that baseball hopes to decide on a permanent home for the Expos by the All-Star break. The franchise was purchased by the other 29 teams for $120 million before the 2002 season.

To raise revenue, baseball moved 22 Expos home games this year from Olympic Stadium in Montreal to San Juan, Puerto Rico.