When Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill declared at the September 16 council meeting "we fire the starter's gun tonight" for the November 15 by-elections, three candidates were sitting in the gallery and a fourth had already announced online he would run.
The Gazette can reveal the names of the first residents to enter the Wards 1 and 2 by-election races and understands more candidates will register next week.
The Labor Party has endorsed Leura resident Sarah Shrubb as its candidate in Ward 1 and Hazelbrook's Annette Bennett in Ward 2.
Ms Shrubb is a freelance book editor, proof-reader and a former primary school teacher and currently serves as president of the board of the Elizabeth Evatt Legal Centre.
She was also the number three candidate on Clr Don McGregor's ticket for the council general elections in 2012.
Ms Shrubb said having an "opportunity to do a lot of hands-on public service" is what attracted her to be a candidate.
"I'll fight hard to win the position," she said.
"I live in a great part of the Mountains and helping make sure it works as well as possible for its residents, workers and visitors - and that we take care of its environment - is a really important and worthwhile job."
Ms Bennett, an electrical fitter and mechanic who now works as a teacher at TAFE, is an active member of her local Rural Fire Service brigade and an executive member of the TAFE Teachers Association.
"Local government is arguably the closest layer of government to people's daily lives and, if elected, I look forward to facilitating community involvement around issues," she said
"I am also a strong advocate for protecting and conserving our World Heritage-listed environment and a promoter of social justice principles."
Lawson resident Rob Thompson has entered the by-election race, standing as an independent candidate for Ward 2.
On his campaign website, Mr Thompson claims the council is stacked with the major political parties and "we need councillors who take their directions from the local people".
"As a councillor it would be my job to represent your problems and issues.
"Currently Blue Mountains Council serves itself... not you. It has been losing on average $6 million a year for the past 10 years."
The Blue Mountains branch of the Liberal Party has selected chartered accountant James Beckett to run as a candidate for Ward 2, subject to official endorsement from the party's state office.
Mr Beckett was the number two candidate for Ward 2 under Clr Chris Van der Kley's ticket in the 2012 council elections.
The two winners of the by-elections will join a council made up of five Labor councillors, four Liberal councillors and one independent.
The cut-off date for by-election candidate nominations is noon on October 15 and pre-poll voting commences on November 3.
The by-elections were caused by the resignations of Robert Stock and Geordie Williamson.