Two Columbus City Council veterans, three appointees with less than a year in office, and five challengers are seeking the votes of city residents Nov. 6.

Five council seats are up for grabs, the most since 1995.

Democrats hold all of them and have been running as a stay-the-course team with Mayor Michael B. Coleman.

Republicans hope to end a string of defeats that has left their party shut out at City Hall since 2003.

The five GOP candidates — two neighborhood activists, a bank executive, a county prosecutor and a defense attorney — have staked out their own, sometimes conflicting positions on issues.

Council members make $37,710 a year. The winner of a head-to-head contest will serve the last two years of a term won in 2005 by Mary Jo Hudson, who resigned in January to work in state government. The other eight candidates are competing against each other. The four top finishers will win four-year terms.

rvitale@dispatch.com

Candidates for full, four-year terms through 2011

• Paul D. Bingle
• Bill Brownson
• Hearcel F. Craig
• Andrew J. Ginther
• Michael C. Mentel
• Jim O'Grady
• Charleta B. Tavares
• Larry W. Thomas

Candidates for partial, two-year term through 2009

• Heidi M. Samuel
• Priscilla R. Tyson