It's a 5-Way Race for City Council

Five candidates will vie for three open at-large seats on Strongsville City Council this year.

All three incumbents are seeking re-election, with challenges from former School Board member Dave Gusman and current School Board member Ruth Brickley.

Because fewer than seven people filed, there will be no primary election in May.

Instead, the five will face off in November, with the top three vote-getters winning seats.

Councilman Duke Southworth was the last to file, submitting his petitions on Monday.

"I look forward to continuing my focus on providing superior municipal services and the lowest possible tax burden on our residents and businesses," Southworth said in a news release. "And to that goal, we need to continue our push for economic development in our industrial parkway and attracting more non-retail businesses to Strongsville."

Southworth was appointed to the post in June 2011 and is making his first bid for election.

Also seeking new four-year terms are Joe DeMio, who was first elected to council in 1995, and Ken Dooner, who was appointed to council in 2008 and has since won election to a four-year term.

Both filed their nominating petitions in January. 

Deadline to file for the race was Wednesday.