From City Council to School Committee, theories of whose name may, or may not appear on the November ballot have begun to make their way into the public discourse.

Inasmuch as we can, we'll be updating this space over the coming months in order to sort out some of the behind-the-scenes chatter that often preceeds electoral contests.

To that end, one of the prevailing questions has centered around the intentions of long-time Ward Councilwoman Kathryn E. Leonard.

For her part, Leonard said definitively on Monday that she is indeed planning on running for another term.

As for potential challengers, so far, none have come forward. 

Meanwhile, former City Councilor Stephen C. Coyne, who has been rumored to be considering either a run for School Committee or a repeat on the council, also said on Monday that he's keeping an open mind.

"I haven't ruled out any options at this point," Coyne said.

With five months left for candidates to declare their intentions, there's still plenty of room for new faces -- and new ideas -- to shape this year's electoral narrative. If you're thinking about running for office, e-mail us.