If you hear any whooshing noises over the next several weeks, it could be the sound of hats being thrown into the ring in the race for two seats on the South Lake Tahoe City Council.

The filing period for the seats on the five-member council opened Monday and will run through Aug. 8.

If either incumbent fails to file by then, the period will be extended through Aug. 13. The terms of council members Mike Weber and Ted Long are expiring this year.

Buzz is building about who might be running in the Nov. 4 election. The two incumbents sound like they will seek re-election, while some potential challengers contacted by the Tribune remained undecided.

Incumbent Weber, now serving as mayor, said last week that he expects to seek another term but added that it is "too early to start campaigning."

Incumbent Long said Monday that he is planning to seek re-election but wanted to talk to "trusted advisers" before making a final decision.

"I look forward to an exciting and active campaign," Long said in an e-mail. "I consider our city at a real crossroad: high-end resort or a real middle-class, working town? I want the opportunity to move forward on my affordable housing projects and innovative transportation solutions."

A possible new face in the council campaign is Tyler Cannon, owner of Sprouts Natural Foods Cafe. Cannon said he's thinking about it but will make a decision together with his family.

"I feel very strongly about our community and where it's headed," said Cannon, noting his involvement in the city's 56-Acre project in the Rufus Allen Boulevard area as well as plans for Harrison Avenue.

Tom Davis, who previously served on the City Council for 12 years, is interested in running again, but work responsibilities might keep him from seeking another term. Davis is the director of marketing at Horizon Casino Resort.

Davis ran for council in 2006, losing to Jerry Birdwell by 35 votes.

Although he said he's undecided, Davis is talking like a candidate.

In an interview last week, Davis called the City Council's decision to ban parking along a section of Venice Drive "a fiasco." He questioned why the ban was implemented just before the Fourth of July weekend, with no alternative parking arrangement in place.

"What a good message we sent to visitors and locals," Davis said.

After giving initial approval to the Venice Drive parking ban, the council on July 1 decided to allow vehicles without boat trailers to park there, and found a new location for boat-trailer parking.

Davis also weighed in on morale issues in the police department. Now that a civil grand jury has released a report on the department, detailing perceived problems and recommending solutions, "it's time to start the healing process," Davis said. To that end, the department should hire back Officer Johnny Poland, who is challenging his dismissal last year, and reinstitute a participative management team, which allows employees to take part in the department's decision-making process.

Two candidates who ran in the 2006 council race - Michael Phillips and Tom Wendell - said they don't plan to run this year.

"At this point, no," said Wendell, who finished last in the field of six candidates. "I'd just be beating my head against the rock."

Phillips is busy with a new Realty World Lake Tahoe franchise that he has opened on Tahoe Keys Boulevard. He's still interested in the political process, though, and didn't rule out another run for office at a future date.

And although South Tahoe Public Utility District Board member Ernie Claudio has been rumored to be eyeing a run for council, Claudio said he is focusing his energy on re-election to the STPUD board next year. Claudio was elected last year to a partial term on the STPUD board.