Contender # 45 is Robert Rosencrantz, a two-time candidate who was once considered a strong contender against council incumbent Richard McIver, who won reelection last November. (Rosencrantz lost in the primary; he also ran against Judy Nicastro in 2003.) “A couple of campaign losses,” he told council members, “haven’t diminished in any way my commitment to join you.”

Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work? You lose an election (or several elections) and move on with your life? Rosencrantz has never even made it through a primary. There’s something sad, and a little icky, about standing in front of the council and asking for a job the public has twice declined to give you.