As the filing deadline closed yesterday at 5:00 PM, the following candidates have filed:

• Mayor: Irma Anderson, Gary Bell and Gayle McLaughlin
• Two-year City Council seat: Tony Thurmond
• Four-year City Council seat (elect 3): Richard Griffin, Maria Viramontes, Jim Rogers, Ludmyrna Lopez, Corky Booze and Jim Jenkins.

This is one of the smallest five-seat fields in recent memory, perhaps signaling that Richmond residents are not as displeased with their City Council as many would believe. Lady Luck smiled on Thurmond, giving him a bye.

In the 2008 election, the City Council will shrink to seven seats. The person elected mayor and the three persons elected to City Council in 2006 will stay on. In a game of musical chairs, the remaining 2008 candidates, including Thurmond if he chooses to run, will vie for three seats.