Three seats – now held by David Roberts, Lesa Heebner and Joe Kellejian – are up for grabs in the Nov. 4 election.

Kellejian, the San Diego regional manager for a recycling company, said he is undecided about seeking a fifth term after 16 years on the council.

“I've been consulting with several people, and I'm not at the point to make a decision either way,” he said yesterday.

Roberts filed election papers with the city clerk last week and is the first candidate to qualify for the ballot. Heebner has taken out papers and said she will file them soon.

Attorney Bruce Rosen also took out election papers but said he has decided not to run.

The filing period for municipal candidates began July 14 and ends Aug. 8. The deadline will be extended if any incumbents does not file.

Roberts was elected to the council in 2004 and now holds the mayoral rotation. He is a vice president of government relations for Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

Heebner, also elected in 2004, is a kitchen designer.

–T.S.

Council race in Escondido draws 5

ESCONDIDO: The Escondido City Council race is getting crowded.

So far, five people have indicated they want to compete for two seats that will become vacant at the end of the year.

The incumbents seeking re-election are council members Sam Abed and Ed Gallo. Their challengers are Olga Diaz, who ran unsuccessfully in 2006, and Chuck Voelker and Richard Barron.

Abed, a businessman, and Gallo, a real estate agent, were allies in the failed 2006 bid to penalize landlords for renting to undocumented immigrants. Diaz, who owns Blue Mug Coffee & Tea, adamantly opposed the ordinance that was approved and later rescinded.

Voelker owns Simply Adina Floral Design, which arranges flowers for special events.

Barron is a business consultant who owns an Escondido law and consulting firm with his wife, Janathan Allen, a lawyer.

–A.L.

Staff writers Tanya Sierra and Angela Lau contributed to this report.