Candidates say the redevelopment of the mall - now home to just one tenant, Dillard's department store - and controlling its impact on traffic and related issues will be the new council's main focus. By the 2005 holiday shopping season, Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate plans to replace the 24-year-old, near-vacant mall at Dixie Highway and Interstate 275 with 60 specialty retail stores and sit-down restaurants.

Several challengers also entered the race after two-term council member Terri Jameson Harold "Hal" Ries, a 12-year councilman and 13-year mayor, decided not to seek re-election.

Incumbents David Kramer, 44, a lawyer from Lookout Farm; Ralph T. Laird, 65, a salesman who lives in College Park; Joe Maloney, 70, a retiree from Crown Distributing Co. who lives in Old Crestview; and Frank Sommerkamp, 75, a retired Cincinnati Bell executive from Summit Lakes have a combined total of 52 years experience in city government.

Also in the race for six at-large, two-year council terms are first-time council candidates David Lawrence Meier II, 32, an accountant from College Park; Thomas A. Moser, 79, a consulting engineer who lives in Old Crestview; Joanne Meehan Hann, 53, and David Thiel, 35, both architects from Old Crestview.

Kevin Black, who recently moved out of state, has dropped out of the race. Even though Black's name will be on the ballot, any votes cast for him won't be counted, said Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com