Six more residents headed to Hutchinson City Center Tuesday to file candidates for City Council seats up for election this fall. That brings to an even dozen the number of people who will seek office.

That means there will be a primary election for the two council seats on Sept. 9, unless some candidates withdraw by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 17.

Incumbent Mayor Steve Cook remains unchallenged as he seeks a third two-year term. He has backed off somewhat from earlier comments that this could be his last term. He indicated Wednesday morning his decision could ultimately depend on what direction the new council takes on such issues as policy governance.

"Will it be my last? I don't know," he said. "It depends upon what happens."

There are plenty of candidates for both Council Seat 3 and 4, where incumbents Kay Peterson and Casey Stotts did not seek re-election.

The latest resident to file for Peterson's Seat 3 are Brad Jacobsen, 525 Lynn Road S.W. and Eric Yost, 440 Campbell Lane N.W. They join Mary Christensen, 528 Juul Road S.W., and Steven Sherman, 15 Academy Lane N.W. in a four-way race.

A whopping seven candidates tossed their hats into the contest for Stotts' Seat 4. Those filing Tuesday for that position were Mark Cormier, 755 Madson Ave. S.W., Chad Czmowski, 547 School Road N.W., LaVonne Hansen, 1125 West Shore Drive S.W., and Roger Stearns, 720 Park Island Drive S.W. They join Raymond Norton, 1245 Roberts Road S.W., Susan Noyes, 3 Northwoods Ave. N.E., and Timothy Sepulvado, 695 California St. N.W.

Because there are at least three candidates for each council seat, a primary election will take place Sept. 9. The general election is Nov. 4.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)