Four residents have filed 501 tax forms to allow them to begin fundraising for next year's city council election. In the race, Seats 1 and 2—currently held by Fred Fowler and Julia Miller—are open to newcomers, while Mayor John Howe will run for re-election to seat three.

The filings do not mean each person is going to run a campaign, but they can now legally begin collecting money if they choose to. Former Councilman Tim Risch—running for seat one a year after he lost his seat to Melinda Hamilton—said these filings are just "the first of many steps."

Arts Commissioner Dixie Carney and retiring public safety officer Tony Drago have filed to run for Miller's spot, and former Palo Alto Fire Capt. Anthony Spitaleri has filed to run against Risch for Fowler's seat. City employees are not eligible to hold elected or appointed positions, but Drago is eligible to run for office because he is retiring before the election.

"To see so many filings so soon is really unusual," said Sunnyvale Communications Officer John Pilger. "Normally, you find people filing between March and July."

Drago said he filed early to give people a chance to get to know him as a candidate and to give himself a chance to get to know the community better. He's anxious to continue his service to the city after his tenure with the department of public safety.

"I'm about to retire next year, and I'd like to continue my community service to Sunnyvale. I can't think of a better way to do it than with the city council."

Drago said last year's election controversy—involving a Public Safety Officers Association campaign against Risch that helped put Risch's opponent Melinda Hamilton on the dais—will likely reverberate through next year's race, but exactly how it will depends on the candidates running.

The 23-year Sunnyvale resident said he wants to distance himself from the controversy and be seen simply as a resident of Sunnyvale who has experience working for the city.

Risch said he expects some opposition to his campaign but has so far had nothing but positive reactions from people he has spoken with.

"I think that I have a tremendous amount of community support," Risch said, "and I think that will show shortly."

Drago's competition for seat two at this point is Dixie Carney, who ran as a write-in candidate last year and said she signed on to bring some diversity to the group.

"I want to encourage other people to get out and run," Carney said. "I don't want it all to be people who have passed through the planning commission."

First-year seat-holders Dean Chu, Otto Lee and Ron Swegles were all planning commissioners immediately before becoming councilmen. Carney currently sits on the Sunnyvale Arts Commission.

Tony Spitaleri—who has spent much of his adult life in Sunnyvale—served on the parks and recreation commission and said he filed his forms early to begin searching for important endorsements for his campaign. He said he wants to be involved as Sunnyvale continues to develop and grow.

"I just want to let people know there are options out there for them, and I think the earlier you get involved the better," Spitaleri said. "There are some exciting things happening, and I want to make sure I have some input in it and can bring my knowledge and experience to the table."

Few of those who have already filed say they have concrete plans already, although Risch said he plans to start his campaign in full at the beginning of October with a fundraiser.

"This first step is just kicking it off, getting people on my campaign together and getting us all working towards a win in November," Risch said.

But even if they don't have set plans yet, this many filers this early has many thinking it will be quite a race.

"I think it probably bodes for a fairly active political season," Pilger said.