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The number of people who have picked up packets for the mayor and council elections in November has swollen to 20, and now includes three certified candidates.

Certified public accountant and former council candidate Richard A. Gottfried joins Historic District Commission Chairman Max van Balgooy, former council candidate Theodric "Theo" Anderson, Richard Montgomery High School student Waleed Ovase, West End Citizens Association's Committee on Beall's Grant II vice president Bridget Newton, civic activist Joseph Jordan and Jose Linan, who said he has helped former mayor and county executive Douglas M. Duncan with Latino outreach during his campaigns.

Councilwoman Phyllis Marcuccio announced she will challenge Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann, who announced her bid for re-election on July 11.

Political newcomer Craig Trapper Martin, former council candidate Carl Henn and former mayoral candidate Mark Pierzchala have earned the necessary 100 signatures on their petitions and are now certified candidates.

Attorney Thomas Moore and former Compensation Commission member Virginia Onley have announced they will run for council, but have not yet been certified by the city.

Picking up packets does not mean a person is a candidate. The filing deadline is Sept. 4. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Gajewski to announce plans

City Councilman Piotr Gajewski said he will announce his future political plans at a lunch today hosted by the community information Web site Rockville Central.

Gajewski, who has picked up a packet for council, has let speculation run wild about whether he will run for re-election, or possibly for mayor. He has declined to confirm or deny any rumors.

But at a town hall meeting he hosted last week, Gajewski said he has been studying voter demographics closely and has engaged a professional campaign manager to help him in the fall.

Gajewski earned the highest number of votes in the 2007 election. The King Farm resident also serves as music director and conductor of the National Philharmonic.

Onley to kick off campaign

Virginia Onley, former member of the city Compensation Committee, will officially kick off her campaign for council at 1 p.m. Saturday at Giuseppi's restaurant in downtown Rockville.

Onley, who has worked at IBM for 34 years, said she brings to the table her experience serving on city boards and commissions.