Three familiar faces so far plan on making a run for two Manteca City Council seats in the Nov. 6 election.

Incumbents Steve DeBrum and Debby Moorhead along with retired city planner Ben Cantu have all indicated they plan to seek four-year council terms.

The filing period for council candidates is July 16 through Aug. 10. They must secure 20 valid signatures of registered voters within Manteca’s city limits to qualify for the ballot.

City Clerk Joann Tilton stressed the importance of getting more signatures than just the minimum.

“If you get only 20 and one is disqualified you have a problem,” Tilton said.

Wayne Flores - a former councilman who was planning a political comeback - made the mistake of getting only 20 signatures and then filing nomination papers close to the deadline. The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters determined several signatures were invalid. By the time Flores was contacted about the problem it was too late for him to collect additional signatures.

Both Moorhead and Cantu have filed Form 501D with the California Fair Political Practices Commission. The filing essentially declares their intent to run so they can form a legal committee to solicit campaign contributions.

DeBrum is preparing to make a formal announcement next week.

The city clerk has all the paperwork that potential candidates need. Tilton noted if candidates wish to have a 200-word statement of qualifications printed in the sample ballot, it will cost them at least $1,100. The expenditure is optional.

Cantu finished third in the race for two Manteca City Council seats in the 2008 election behind DeBrum and Moorhead. He finished second in the race for mayor in 2010 losing to Willie Weatherford while coming in ahead of Moorhead.

Cantu worked as a city planner for nearly 36 years.

DeBrum is a field representative for the Dairy Farmers of America. He has been on the City Council since 2002.

Moorhead is chief executive officer of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce. She has been on the council since 2008.