LEWISTON — The race to be the next mayor might have loosened up a bit, but the race to fill the Ward 5 City Council seek is getting tighter.

Candidate Charles Soule, one of five who initially began passing nominating petitions for the mayor’s chair, changed his mind. Instead of seeking the job of mayor, Soule has taken out new papers for the Ward 5 council seat held by Craig Saddlemire, who is not planning to seek a new term.

Soule joins potential Ward 5 candidates Kristen Cloutier of 33 Charles St., Richard White of 232 Blake St. and Beverly S. Clark of 125 Pierce St.

So far, only Soule and Cloutier have completed the nomination process and guaranteed themselves spots on the ballot.

That leaves four men passing petitions to qualify for a spot on the mayor’s ballot. They are incumbent Robert E. Macdonald, Michael Marcotte of 12 O’Connell St., Stanley Pelletier of 28 Surrey Lane and Laurent F. Gilbert, 39 Cote St. None of the four have returned their petitions.

The remaining six City Council incumbents are passing petitions. They include Ward 1’s John T. Butler, Ward 2’s Donald D’Auteuil, Ward 3’s Nathan Libby, Ward 4’s Doreen Christ and Ward 6’s Mark Cayer.

No challengers have stepped forward for those seats.

In Ward 7, incumbent Richard Desjardins is passing a nomination petition while challenger Mike Lachance has turned his in, guaranteeing himself a spot on ballot.

Candidates for all city seats must file their nominating petitions and signatures by Sept. 6. The election is scheduled for Nov. 5. Terms for those elected begin in January 2014.

Petitions are available at the City Clerk’s Office in Lewiston City Hall. All seats for the City Council and School Committee are open. That includes the mayor, councilors for all seven wards, School Committee members for all seven wards and the at-large School Committee seat.

Candidates for Lewiston mayor must gather between 100 and 200 signatures from registered Lewiston voters. Candidates for City Council and School Committee must gather at least 50 signatures. For all City Council or School Committee members from a particular ward, signatures must come from registered voters from their wards. At-large School Committee candidates can gather signatures from all registered voters.

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Potential candidates seeking ballot nominations

Mayor

Robert E. Macdonald, 6 Jolin St.

Michael Marcotte, 12 O’Connell St.

Stanley Pelletier, 28 Surrey Lane

Laurent F. Gilbert, 39 Cote St.

City Council

Ward 1, John T. Butler, 20 Ware St.

Ward 2, Donald D’Auteuil, 400 Montello St.

Ward 3,  Nathan Libby, 12 Orange St.

Ward 4, Doreen Christ, 1 Buckley St.

Ward 5, Kristen Cloutier, 33 Charles St.; Richard White, 232 Blake St.; Charles A. Soule, 135 Bartlett St.; and Beverly S. Clark, 125 Pierce St.

Ward 6, Mark Cayer, 56 Webber Ave.

Ward 7, Richard Desjardins, 55 Baird Ave.; and Mike Lachance, 183 Rosedale St.

School Committee

At-large, Zam Zam Mohamud, 66 Tall Pines Drive; and Cindy Mendros, 135 Hogan Road.

Ward 1, Albert Carpentier, 14 Brooks Ave.; Linda M. Scott, 45 Pettingill St.; and Walter Hill, 10 Loubier Ave.

Ward 2, Paul St. Pierre, 12 Venture St.; and Stavros Mendros, 135 Hogan Road.

Ward 3, Trinh Burpee, 253 Pine St.

Ward 4, James Handy, 9 Maplewood Road.

Ward 6, Dawn Hartill, 75 Summit Ave.

Ward 7, Tom Shannon, 53 Androscoggin Ave.