The citizens of Simi Valley will know in the coming weeks just who will be on the November ballot opposite the city government's three incumbents, Mayor Paul Miller and City Councilmembers Glen Becerra and Michelle Foster.

The filing period begins this Mon., July 17 and runs until Aug. 11.

Those interested in running for office must first come to City Hall at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road to pick up a candidate's notebook and then collect signatures from at least 20 registered voters who live within city limits. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and live in the city.

Alice Redondo, city clerk's office spokeswoman, said although there's been very little activity up to this point, that's not out of the ordinary.

"Other years we may have had more phone calls, and some years we may have had none at all," Redondo said last Friday "A lot of people don't announce they're going to run until after the filing period has begun."

The city's policy is to not disclose those who've shown interest in running until after the filing period begins, but Redondo did say that her office had heard from a few interested candidates.

She said their names wouldn't be released until after they picked up their election papers.

Miller, a former police chief, was elected mayor in 2004 after serving as a City Council member since 1994.

Becerra, the current mayor pro tem, has been on the council since 1998, winning his first reelection bid in 2002.

Foster was appointed to the City Council in 2004 to fill the vacant seat created when Miller was elected mayor.

Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms while the mayor's term is two years.