In the calm before the storm leading up to November’s Mayoral election, let us speculate as to 2009’s municipal elections.

   There will be both a mayoral and council at-large election in November, 2009.  Candidates have already expressed their intent on running for Mayor in 2009.  Marty Small and William Marsh have both said they will run.  G. Bruce Ward and Bob McDevitt are both positioning themselves for 09.  The winner of 08 will likely run for re-election.  The losers of 08 will likely run in 09.  David Tayoun and George Tibbitt are possible candidates.  Dominic Cappella cannot be counted out.  Simply speaking, there will be a lot of action between November of 08 and June of 09.

   There has been little to no talk of challengers for the councilmen at-large seats.  Councilman Eugene Robinson is most likely to run and Councilman John Schultz is less likely.    Who else will run for a seat?  Steve Young and Steve Layman are two possible at-large council candidates.  Both men are getting involved in city-wide citizen initiatives.  Both men have been involved in recent campaigns.  Mr. Layman is coming off of being Dominic Cappella’s campaign manager.  Mr. Young is a council aide, new talk show host, and National Action Network (Al Sharpton’s group) leader.  Besides their affiliations, both Mr. Layman and Mr. Young come off of recent defeats.  The Cappella campaign was strong but did not deliver votes and Mr. Young narrowly lost the Democrat committee chairmanship to Mr. McDevitt.

   I pose the question to you, “Who will run for city council at-large in 2009?”