The Twin Cities' mayors will have competition in the April elections for their bids for another term.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos and mayoral hopeful Andrew Matthews were among those filing nominating petitions in Normal on Monday, the first day to file for the April 7 election.

In Bloomington, Tari Renner, 1016 N. Evans St., and Steve Stockton, 19 Brompton Court, filed to run as mayor.

Koos, 1014 S. Fell Ave., Normal, owner of Vitesse/Often Running, is seeking his second full term as mayor. He became mayor in 2003 to fill the remainder of the term of Kent Karraker, who resigned for health reasons. Karraker recommended Koos and the council voted him in.

Matthews, 2343 Cascade Court, Normal, a lecturer at Illinois State University's School of Communication, has never held an elected office but was a candidate for a seat on the Normal-based Unit 5 school board.

Stockton, a retired vice president from State Farm Insurance Cos., announced last week he would seek a second term. Renner, a member of the McLean County Board and a political science professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, announced in April he was seeking the city's top elected position.

Ward 7 alderman so far is the only officially contested seat so far among Bloomington council members.

Incumbent Ward 7 Alderman Steven Purcell, 407 W. Emerson St., will be challenged in his bid for a second term by James Keeran, 1513 W. Graham St., and Chuck Irwin, 6 Iverness Drive.

In Ward 1, Bernie Anderson, 12 Hidden Lake, filed petitions for the seat held by Alderman Allen Gibson. Gibson has taken out a petition but did not file on Monday.

Ward 3 Alderman Kevin Huette, 2511 Garlington Lane, filed for re-election.

In Ward 5, Jennifer McDade, 206 Fleetwood Drive, filed for the seat held by Alderman Jim Finnegan, who has not taken out a petition.

Alderman Jim Fruin, 3001 Thornwood Lane, also filed to run for re-election for the city's Ward 9 seat.

That ward was created two years ago after a special census of the city. A two-year term was created to maintain the staggering of terms between even and odd wards.

Others filing for races in Normal on the first day were Councilmen Adam Nielsen and Jason Chambers.

Nielsen, 1100 Crooked Stick, Normal, is seeking his third term on the council. Chambers, 1111 W. Hovey Ave., Normal, is seeking his second full term on the council.

Normal council members are elected at-large, and three council seats are up for election. Besides those of Nielsen and Chambers, the seat held by Councilwoman Cheryl Gaines also is up for re-election.