Former Santa Rosa City Councilman Lee Pierce wants his old job back, and he may not be the only one.
The city's first black City Council member, who served from 2004 to 2008, announced Monday that he's running for one of the three council seats open in November.
Pierce said he also understands that former council colleague John Sawyer is planning to enter the race.
"I welcome John back in the race," Pierce said. "I like to think of John as a friend and former colleague on the council and I would look forward to working with him again if we're both successful."
Sawyer could not be reached for comment Monday.
Pierce and Sawyer would bring to six the total number of candidates running for seats on the City Council.
The other four are Mayor Scott Bartley, who is seeking to retain his seat, Planning Commissioner Curtis Byrd, former Press Democrat columnist Chris Coursey and former Police Chief Tom Schwedhelm.
First-term Councilman Jake Ours and Councilwoman Robin Swinth, who was appointed last year to fill the term of now 1st District Supervisor Susan Gorin, have both decided not to run for reelection.
Pierce is an Army veteran, former county job training manager and co-owner of a gemstone manufacturing startup that closed in 2008. He is currently the government affairs manager for Industrial Carting and Global Materials Recovery Services, the Santa Rosa garbage hauling and recycling firms.
He says his varied work and life background can bring a diversity of viewpoints to the council.
"I am running for City Council to improve the lives of everyday Santa Rosans," said Pierce, 66. "Santa Rosa is a special place to live, which is why I want to do my part to make it more safe, more just, and more economically prosperous."
Pierce lost his bid for re-election to the council in 2008, placing fifth in the contest for four open seats. He quickly set his sights on the state Assembly seat being vacated in 2010 by Noreen Evans, but lost to Michael Allen.
Sizing up the rest of the council field, Pierce said he likes his chances. He said he expects more people to get into the race before the Aug. 8 filing deadline.
Other sources confirmed Monday that Sawyer is planning to run. Rob Muelrath, who served as his campaign consultant in his failed run for 1st District supervisor in 2012, did not return a call for comment Monday.
Sawyer, co-owner of Sawyer's News until the downtown store closed in 2009, ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2002, won in 2004 and served two terms through 2012. He served as mayor briefly after Bob Blanchard died. In 2012, he faced off against former council colleague Gorin, narrowly losing a hard-fought campaign to represent east Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley.
Others agree the field is far from set.
"This might not be a field we see fully realized until August," said Nick Caston, a local political consultant and husband of Santa Rosa City Councilwoman Erin Carlstrom.
The current all-male field of candidates creates an obvious opening for a female candidate to mix things up, Caston said.
You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @citybeater.
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