In the first week the paperwork was available, two incumbents and seven challengers have pulled election packets to run for three seats on Maricopa City Council.

They become candidates only after they turn in the completed packets and petitions between April 30 and May 30.

Henry Wade and Vincent Manfredi are sitting councilmembers wishing to return. Peg Chapados’s seat on the dais is also available.

Contending for those seats are Viola Najar, Robert Marsh, Cynthia Morgan, Leon Potter, Sarah Ball, Linette Caroselli and Rich Vitiello.

Najar, a member of the Age-Friendly Maricopa Advisory Council, Marsh and Potter, both members of the Planning & Zoning Commission, must resign to run. Potter is a former councilmember.

Vitiello was a candidate for council in 2014, facing off with Nancy Smith, and ran for county supervisor against Anthony Smith in the Republican primary in 2016.

Morgan, who chairs a networking committee for the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce, Caroselli, a teacher and activist, and Ball are venturing into city politics for the first time.

Others interested in running for council have until April 30 to pick up an election packet at City Hall.

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