Nine Sunnyvale residents have filled out the tax forms necessary for campaign fundraising or spending. One has decided not run for office, and two have formally filed for candidacy.

By Aug. 5, only planning commissioner Chris Moylan and former Vice-Mayor Tim Risch had filed papers to run.

Moylan is running for Seat 2, currently held by Julia Miller; Risch is running for Seat 1, currently held by Fred Fowler. Miller and Fowler have both reached their 8-year term limits.

The only council member up for reelection is former Mayor John Howe.

Possible opponents for Moylan include former Arts Commissioner Dixie Carney, newcomer Darab Ghaffary and recent Leadership Sunnyvale graduate Pete Richards, who ran for council in 2003.

Ghaffary--although he had not filed for candidacy by press time--is endorsed by the Public Safety Officers Association. The politically active union played a large part in Risch losing to Melinda Hamilton in 2003.

For Seat 1, Risch is running against former Palo Alto Fire Captain Anthony Spitaleri. Spitaleri--also endorsed by the PSOA--is a former labor arbitrator for both the PSOA and the Sunnyvale Employees Association.

Housing and Human Services Commissioner Nancy Smith is the only candidate so far to show interest in running against Howe. Howe is completing his first term in Seat 3.