Carr's goals include improving pedestrian access, working more closely with neighboring communities, attracting new businesses, finding a new site for the Housing Opportunities Commission, and making the town government more "transparent" and "accessible" by adding more information, like the town code and charter, to Kensington's Web site.

"I've always had an interest in municipal government," he said. "I think I have a lot of skills that I could contribute to the town and help make it a better place."

Carr, 36, is a sales engineer for Verizon. He grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and has lived in Kensington for four years. He has not run for public office before, but has been active in community activities.

As co-vice president of the Kensington Historical Society, he developed the group's Web site and arranged for speakers to give presentations at meetings.

He has volunteered on Kensington's charter review and traffic committees. He also serves as one of the town's liaisons for the Coalition of Kensington Communities, an umbrella group of neighborhood associations in the Kensington ZIP code.

His wife, Berrie, delivered their first baby, Miles Alexander, on Saturday.

Pfautz said she is running for reelection because she enjoys serving on the council and wants to continue ongoing projects.

"There's a lot of exciting things going on, so I didn't feel I was quite finished yet," she said. "In this position, as much as you're doing, you're learning just as much ... It's fun to be part of the process."

Pfautz was elected to the council three years ago in a special election to fill a vacant seat. She is the council member in charge of finance and budget issues this year. She was in charge of traffic issues for the past two years.

She is director for the American Bar Association's section on administrative law and regulatory practices. She also serves as an advocate for a 15-year-old boy in Ellicott City in a program through Casa de Maryland, an advocacy group for Latinos.

Pfautz meets with the boy about once a week and checks with his social worker and therapist to ensure he is getting the services he needs.

She edits the Kensington Historical Society's newsletter and serves on the legislative committee for the Maryland Municipal League, which represents 157 municipal governments in the state.

Pfautz, 45, grew up in New York and has lived in Kensington for 11 years. She and her husband, Barry Peoples, adopted two Rottweilers, Hayley and Tasha, from a rescue league.

Chris Bruch, who has been on the Town Council for four years, said he is not running for reelection because he wants to spend more time with his wife and three children.

Glenn Cowan and Barbara Scharman, who were elected to the council last year, have one year left in their terms. Kensington's mayor and four council members are elected to two-year terms.