The mayor on Tuesday acknowledged he actively sought opponents for Ald. Brenda Konkel, 2nd District, who faces four challengers.

Alds. Larry Palm, 15th District, and Joe Clausius, 17th District, also have challengers.

The election filing deadline was 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"I've been somewhat disappointed with Brenda and her approach to issues," Cieslewicz said. "I'm just looking for some different leadership there."

The mayor, Konkel said, got active in her district because she stands up on issues and demands transparency when the system is designed to cut deals behind the scenes.

"He felt because I bring things up at the council, I blindside him," said Konkel, a leader in the leftist political party Progressive Dane who has focused on housing and social justice issues. "He's a nice guy but he's cutthroat when it comes to politics. I guess I'm in his way."

But Cieslewicz might have been able to stay away.

The mayor said he didn't recruit any of the candidates who emerged to face Konkel — Dennis Denure, Sherman Hackbarth, Bridget Maniaci, a former Cieslewicz intern, and Adam Walsh.

"There are four challengers," the mayor said. "It indicates the level of dissatisfaction in her district with her leadership."

Cieslewicz, who faces re-election in 2011, said he might endorse one of the four or candidates in other races.

City Council President Tim Bruer, who said he advised the Cieslewicz administration against becoming involved in races, said the mayor's actions are the exception but not without precedent.

Konkel welcomed the challenge.

"It's good for democracy," she said. "We should have four people running in every race throughout the city."

That's not quite happening.

Of 20 council seats, three incumbents have opposition, 13 incumbents are running unopposed, and four seats are open because incumbents didn't seek reelection.

All open seats — Districts 5, 7, 8 and 11 — have contested races.

In all, 34 candidates are running for 20 seats.

The general lack of opposition for incumbents reflects public satisfaction with the council's "common sense agenda," a move from social justice and international issues to an emphasis on basic services, Bruer said.

A primary on Feb. 17 will produce finalists in the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 17th districts. The general election, with contests in those districts plus the 5th, 11th and 15th districts, is set for April 7.

The landscape is far different than 2007, when nine incumbents didn't seek re-election and 46 candidates ran for the 20 council seats.

"I'm not surprised," Cieslewicz said. "This is a good council overall. They tend to be pretty collegial and don't fall into different camps. I think the council is doing a pretty good job."