There will likely be a need for a run-off election for Bloomington mayor.
Five candidates have filed petitions to run for mayor on the opening day of the period to be on the ballot for the April municipal contests. Today is the first day candidates can officially file for office.
They include previously announced candidates: incumbent Mayor Tari Renner, Alderman Diana Hauman, Alderman Kevin Lower, former radio talk show host Ian Bayne, and Robert Fike.
More than four candidates creates a need for a primary unless one or more is removed if there are challenges to petition filings.
In the Bloomington aldermanic contests, there are contested races in ward five with Lupe Diaz and incumbent Joni Painter, and in ward nine with Kim Bray and Gregory Rodriguez submitting papers.
Ward seven Alderman Scott Black has filed, as has ward one candidate Jamie Mathy, and ward three candidate Gary Lambert.
There will also be a lottery later to determine ballot position for the candidates in wards five and nine, and for mayor.
Political scientists generally consider first ballot position desirable in a multi candidate race. The filing deadline is Nov. 28.