VERO BEACH — Within the last hour of the qualifying period, Vero Beach City Councilman Ken Daige has filed to run for a seat on the dais.
He is seeking a two-year term seat to replace the one-year-appointed seat he currently holds.
Daige had been appointed to the Vero Beach City Council early this year to fill the seat left vacant by the ousting of then-Councilman Charlie Wilson.
Daige had been the third-highest vote getter in the 2009 municipal election, which saw the swearing in of Wilson and Brian Heady.
Daige has served on the Vero Beach City Council in the past.
He joins 10 others seeking three two-year-term seats on the council and a one-year seat to complete Wilson’s term.
Daige is one of three incumbents who have chosen to seek re-election to the council, including Mayor Kevin Sawnick and Vice Mayor Sabe Abell.
Councilman Tom White announced that he would not be seeking another term on the council this time around.
Councilman Brian Heady is the only member of council who is safe this November.
Challenging the incumbents for the open seats are eight Vero Beach residents and business owners.
Those challengers include Al Benkert, Tracy Carroll, Craig Fletcher, David Fromang, Richard Kennedy, Jay Kramer, Michael Thomas and Pilar Turner.
Benkert, who originally filed for a two-year term, changed his filing within the last half-hour of the qualifying period, according to City Clerk Tammy Vock.
Benkert will now be in a three-way race for the one-year seat between Vice Mayor Sabe Abell and Tracy Carroll.