It’s not just the incumbents anymore in Calistoga.

While city council members Michael Dunsford and Karen Slusser have indicated they will seek re-election, only one candidate has actually filed papers to run in the November city council election: James Barnes, Vietnam veteran and retired insurance industry representative who has long been involved in civic affairs in Calistoga.

Barnes, a fixture in Calistoga since retiring from 32 years in the insurance business about a decade ago, is a member of Calistoga Rotary, has been active with the American Legion, volunteered at the Sharpsteen Museum, served on the board of the Calistoga Family Center and helps distribute food for the Napa Food Bank each month.

“I am running for a seat on the city council because I believe that Calistoga, the state and the nation are facing some hard times ahead on the economy, on water issues, the climate and more,” Barnes said this week.

“I’ve had 32 years in business, including CEO of a large brokerage firm in San Francisco, and as a military intelligence analyst. So I think I have plenty of skills I can offer — that’s why I’m running.”

Dr. Norman Wall is also mulling a run for council, or even mayor. Calistoga Mayor Jack Gingles has filed papers making his run for re-election official.

“I’m kind of vacillating at this point about whether to run for a council seat or the mayor’s job,” said Wall, who acknowledged he is a “relative unknown” in political circles. “I just hate to see anyone run unopposed.”

Wall, who said he plans to turn in his papers “probably on Monday” has had a lot of experience dealing with boards and government offices, just not a local elected office.

“I’ve been the chief medical officer at the Veterans Home for a lot of years,” Wall said. “I’ve administered up to 200 employees and a $75 million budget. I’ve served on boards of trustees and dealt with city, state and federal agencies, so I have that experience. I’ve just never held elected local offices before.”

Wall has been a resident of Calistoga for several years.

Slusser has been a council member for six years, and finished third behind first-term councilmembers Placido Garcia and Gary Kraus in 2006. She was appointed to the remainder of former City Councilmember Jack Gingles’ seat when he was elected to his first term as mayor.

Dunsford, who acts as Calistoga’s vice mayor, is also a first-term elected councilmember who has championed recreational improvements in Calistoga and helped draft the proposed Urban Design Plan.

The nomination period ends Aug. 8, provided Slusser and Dunsford file for their seats. If the incumbents don’t file for re-election, by law, the nomination period is extended until Aug. 15.