A frequent political candidate has filed precandidacy papers in Charleston's mayoral race.
Janet "JT" Thompson, who has run for several local and state offices, filed her papers as an independent.
Tom Capito, a Republican who's currently the assistant city treasurer, also filed for the office this week, but he pulled his application from the city clerk's office within hours.
If Capito - who is U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's brother-in-law - officially mounts a campaign, he would face Charleston City Clerk JB Akers in the Republican primary.
Amy Shuler Goodwin, former West Virginia Division of Tourism commissioner, and Andy Richardson, an at-large Charleston city councilman, will face off in the Democratic primary.
Andy Backus, a political newcomer, also has announced his run for mayor, as an independent.
Thompson last ran for mayor in 2011 as a Democrat. After she lost in the primary to Paul Monroe, she filed a challenge contesting the city and county's elections.
After filing several lawsuits against the county and city, costing both more than $118,000 in defense costs, Kanawha Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit ordered Thompson to only file complaints in court if she had permission from a judge or an attorney representing her.
She also filed a petition to recall Mayor Danny Jones from office in 2015. A three-judge panel dismissed the petition, saying she hadn't gathered enough valid signatures.
State law requires that possible candidates for public office register a committee in order to accept campaign contributions, which is done through the precandidacy filing.
Reach Ali Schmitz at ali.schmitz@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @SchmitzMedia on Twitter.