So far, it looks like voters in Forest Grove will have a bevy of familiar faces to choose from in the race for city council.

Three positions on the council are up for election this November and those seats will be awarded to the three top vote-getters.

Incumbents Victoria Lowe and Elena Uhing are running for re-election, but Tom BeLusko Jr. is not seeking a second term. That leaves one seat on the council wide open. And so far, the choices involve some household political names.

Richard Kidd, former Forest Grove mayor, and Aldie Howard, a perennial city council candidate, have entered the race to replace BeLusko.

Both men have been active in city politics since the 1990s. In 2009, Kidd stepped down after 13 years as mayor to run for county commissioner, but came in third behind Greg Mecklam and Bob Terry. Terry went on to win in the fall runoff against Mecklam.

Since then, Kidd has remained active in politics, quietly attending regional meetings at Metro and elsewhere.

“I understand that my vote is really needed back on the council,” Kidd said.

In the three years he’s been off the city council, Kidd said he’s toured other cities to bring back ideas for Forest Grove.

“I’m interested in talking with the council about economic development and issues dealing with businesses,” Kidd said, “as well as helping to improve the livability of the community and continuing support for parks and recreation that I helped establish in my past experience with the city.”

Pete Truax took over as mayor when Kidd exited, and BeLusko was appointed to the city council to fill the vacancy left by Truax. If Kidd were elected to city council, the make-up of the body would essentially be the same as in 2009.

Years ago, Howard pledged to run until he wins, and has kept good on that vow — lodging a bid for council every two years. Howard said he understands his consistent presence on the ballot won’t help him.

“Nobody’s listening to me,” Howard said. “I’m just a windbag in the wind. I’m a crackpot.”

But he said the city council needs a change, especially following the pair of high-profile lawsuits the city has faced around development issues. In 2011, a federal jury awarded a development consortium $6.5 million, finding that the city of Forest Grove caused undue delay of The Parks of Forest Grove, leading to a brutal financial impact for the developer, Tim McDonald.

The city is pursuing an appeal, but Howard, who worked on the project as a land use consultant, said the verdict should force the city to reassess its management.

Specifically, Howard said the city should remove Michael Sykes, the city manager, and Rob Foster, public works director, because of their role in the controversy.

“I’ve known Michael Sykes a long time. He could have done a lot. He didn’t do anything, because that’s the way he is,” Howard said. “He stays under the radar.”

Howard said the city needs active public administrators in both roles.

“I’d have a serious conversation with the council,” Howard said. “We’d finally decide how in the hell we’re going to do planning in this city and how we’re going to treat developers who build [in] this city.”