Five candidates, including incumbents Ann Agnew and Kevin Laird, had filed for two open seats on the Sun Valley City Council by the Sept. 30 deadline.
Challengers are Milt Adam, Nils Ribi and Dan Pincetich.
Council members Blair Boand and Lud Renick will not be up for re-election until 2007.
Beginning this election on Nov. 8, council members will be selected for four-year terms in an open election instead of one for specific seats.
Ribi, a member of the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission since 2000, said he is running for the council because he believes it will need more effective leadership as it confronts implementation of Sun Valley Co.'s master plan and updates of the city's zoning ordinances, tax code, disaster planning and financing procedures.
In a letter sent to voters, Ribi stated that he seeks to preserve open space and limit the size of buildings in new subdivisions adjacent to existing residential areas.
Adam, a retired engineer and 30-year resident of Sun Valley, is making his third attempt for a seat on the council.
In an interview, he said he believes the city needs more leadership on the construction of workforce housing. He has suggested the use of land next to the Elkhorn Fire Station and City Hall for that purpose.
Adam is an advocate for consolidation of the various local bus services, and for construction of more footpaths in the city.
Pincetich, who served as Sun Valley city administrator from 2000 to 2003, is running for the first time for elective office in the city. He said he is eager to help develop policy, not just implement it. However, he said the total of 16 years he has spent as a city administrator, both in Sun Valley and for three cities in California, should help him do that.
Pincetich said issues on which he feels that experience will be especially helpful are development of affordable housing, regional transportation and implementation of the Sun Valley Co. master plan.
He said that during his work in California, he encountered ideas for affordable housing, such as low-interest loans for city workers, that have not been raised in the Wood River Valley.
"I think there are some other alternatives that can be added to the mix that's already been started," he said.
Agnew has stated that due to the recent death of her husband, Jim Agnew, she will begin her campaign in mid October.
Laird could not be reached for comment.
