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Next week's election for mayor and City Council will dramatically change the composition of Rockville's governing body.

The city on Monday honored five-term Councilwoman Anne M. Robbins, who will not seek re-election. But the night was also Phyllis R. Marcuccio's last on the council, where she has served for two terms, as her challenge for mayor will see her either take Susan R. Hoffmann's chair or lose her seat on the council.

That dynamic opens up two seats on the council, a fact that has injected energy into the field of 10 council candidates.

That field includes two first-term incumbents, John Britton and Piotr Gajewski.

Challenging them is what many political observers have called the strongest field of candidates in several election cycles. Voters can choose up to four candidates to fill the four council seats.

There are municipal veterans like Tom Moore and Virginia Onley, who served on the Compensation Commission, among others, as well as Max van Balgooy, who serves on the Historic District Commission, and Bridget Newton, who has been active in the West End Citizens Association and is a former chair of the Compensation Commission.

Mark Pierzchala of College Gardens, who challenged Hoffmann for mayor in 2007, and Carl Henn of Hungerford, who ran for council in 2007, bring experience as presidents of their civic associations to the race.

There are also political newcomers Trapper Martin, a local businessman who manages a restaurant in Town Square, and 18-year-old Waleed Ovase, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School.

With six of the seven scheduled forums behind them, including three televised by the city on cable channel 11, the candidates have had their chance to voice their positions on the many issues facing Rockville.

Foremost in the forums has been the fiscal 2010 budget and the looming difficulties that everyone is sure will hit the city in 2011.

Despite conservative budgeting this year that left Rockville with nearly a $3 million surplus, a $2.4 million reduction in state revenues and a general fear about the slow national economy have led some candidates to claim sweeping reforms are needed.

Hoffmann has reiterated that there is no budget crisis in Rockville, and that the city budget is sound and balanced.

Marcuccio said she will "scrub the budget," while Pierzchala, a professional statistician, said he would analyze it from top to bottom, and van Balgooy has called for an end to the city's increase in spending.

Neither Britton nor Gajewski have called for budget reform, but both have acknowledged that very careful allocation of funds in the next two years will be extremely important.

Civility on the council has also been an issue central to many candidates' platforms. A turbulent and often standoffish past two years has drawn the ire of critics and candidates who say it has been detrimental to the city.

Supporting Town Center and coaxing greater community involvement in municipal activities also emerged as major issues through the campaigns.

Polls will be open on Election Day next Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are 10 voting districts within the city, each with a designated voting location. Check the city's Web site (www.rockvillemd.gov) to find locations.

Election Day is Nov. 3 and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are 10 voting districts within the city. For more information on polling places, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/election09

Mayor

-Susan R. Hoffmann (incumbent)

-Phyllis R. Marcuccio (councilwoman)

City Council

-John Britton (incumbent)

-Piotr Gajewski (incumbent)

-Carl Henn

-Trapper Martin

-Tom Moore

-Bridget Newton

-Virginia Onley

-Waleed Ovase

-Mark Pierzchala

-Max van Balgooy

Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly listed Bridget Newton as a political newcomer.