April 2010 was the last time we did this cattle call and there’s been alot of movement in this list since then to report on. Or, at least, there has been strong rumor of a big change to the who’sin-who’s out churn that has been going on the past year and so obsessing folks in Wilmington this weekend to revisit this list:
Rep. Dennis P. Williams, State Representative 
Williams is said to have told Bob Gilligan last legislative session that he was staying in the House and not running for Wilmington Mayor — Gilligan was apparently looking to know how much succession planning he needed to do. Williams even let it be known he was going to help Ted Blunt in his race for Mayor. This weekend’s rumor mill has Williams looking to announce for Mayor of Wilmington this sometime this week.
Rev. Derrick Johnson, pastor of Joshua Harvest Church
I’d consider this a “profile management” run by the Rev. Johnson — who is looking to burnish his profile and get in the conversation. Not a serious candidate IMO.
Steve Martelli, City Councilman
Doubt that Martelli will actually get in at this point, but there is still some months of attention left to showcase the decision-making.
Kevin Kelley, City Councilman
Kelley really seems to want this and is making moves to discuss his candidacy with stakeholders all over the city. I think his odds are long, but he’s clearly working.
Hanifa Shabazz, City Councilwoman
Out, I’m sure. Am told that her attentions are now focused on trying to win the seat in the State Senate held by Bobby Marshall. And I think that she is punching above her weight class here, too.
Norman Griffiths, City Council President
Said to be waffling, but since Theo Gregory looks to be going for another try at City Council President, Griffiths is between a rock and a hard place here. It doesn’t help that Griffiths hasn’t exactly distinguished himself as Council President.
Charles “Bud” Freel, At-Large City Councilman
Am pretty certain Freel is not running for Mayor.
Bill Montgomery, Mayor Baker’s Chief of Staff
Still seems to be in the “thinking” mode. Somehow doesn’t think he’ll have to be accountable for the Baker-era decisions that have been unpopular among the folks he expects to vote for him.
Ted Blunt, former City Council President
He was definitely in, with backing from Williams which seems to no longer be operative. No idea what his plans are now.
Senator Bob Marshall, State Senator
He did an announcement back in the Fall of 2010, and no seems to have heard from him since. Other than for suing the builders of his Riverfront condo, that is.
Paul Calistro, Director of West End House
Last time I did this, I thought that Calistro could be a game changer and I still do. He removed himself from the field for awhile, but seems to be rethinking. If he is, he should get in. He would be a welcome fresh face in city leadership — one with good relationships with many neighborhoods, the business community, the non-profit community and down at Dover. And I think he’d be competitive.
Mike Brown, At-Large City Councilman
Still running as a Republican in a Blue City. Now armed with an endorsement from Colin Bonini.
Tyler Nixon, Perpetual Candidate
No idea what he is planning to do and it probably doesn’t matter.
Robert Bovell, Bailbondsman and Perpetual Candidate
No idea what he is planning to do and it probably doesn’t matter.
John Rago, Mayor Baker’s Communications Director
If Williams is in the race for Mayor (and I’ve heard that this is so from multiple typically good sources since Friday AM), that would leave his Representative seat open. And folks speculate that Charles Potter will go for that.
What strikes me about all of this is that there isn’t much about this field as currently speculated (except for maybe Calistro or maybe Kelley) that doesn’t represent business as usual in the city. And the city is quite ripe for people who won’t represent business as usual. There is alot of anger and disappointment in the trajectory of the current administration (and the City Council that can’t seem to represent much of this anger and disappointment) and I can count on one hand the folks who I think actually get this.
There’s still plenty of time for this field to shape up and how this influences City Council races (with recent redistricting) as well as GA races. But if there are folks out there reading from the City and you’ve been looking for an opportunity to break up the business as usual caucus, this might be your year.
It is too soon to place odds, I think, but not to soon to weigh in with an opinion — what do you think?