City certifies candidates for 2009 council

Springfield City Clerk Brenda Cirtin has certified 14 candidates for the 2009 City Council elections.

The candidates are:

• For mayor: O&S Trucking President Jim O'Neal, Sandra Queen Noble, Christopher Donegan and Pythian Castle owner Tamara Finocchiaro;

• For the Zone 1 seat: incumbent Denny Whayne, Nick Ibarra and Cameron Eaton;

• For the Zone 4 seat: Scott Bailes;

• For the General A seat: Robert Stephens, Big Momma's Coffee and Espresso Bar owner Lyle Foster and Tom Martz, who was the chief petitioner for the state's audit of Springfield; and

• For the General B seat: John Rush, Jason Lillard and Fred Ellison.

Primaries will be held Feb. 3 for mayor, Zone 1, General A and General B seats. For each seat, the two candidates with the most votes will be on the April 7 ballot.