With 2 weeks to go, who are the bright lights in Edmonton's municipal election campaign?

This week's column focuses on the councillor races in wards 1 through 6 in Edmonton.

They range from likely shoo-ins for some incumbents to hard fought races in the open wards where no incumbent is running.

In some wards, only candidates I view as being serious contenders are mentioned.

• Brennan:Is this a Seinfeld Edmonton municipal election?
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Ward 1

The west-end ward is currently represented by incumbent Andrew Knack. He was elected in 2013 after failed attempts in 2007 and 2010. Knack has been a solid, hardworking councillor.

He has advocated for things like the west LRT leg to Lewis Farms and the proposed northwest Edmonton recreation centre.

He has also served as council's representative on the Edmonton NextGen volunteer organization that promotes "new and emerging ideas," and the City of Edmonton youth council. Knack faced no opposition until nomination day.

Local businessman Dave Olivier is challenging Knack, focusing on the issues of property tax increases, infill, policing and community safety.

Reuben Avellanais calling for a property tax freeze and more transparency and accountability.

I expect Knack to be easily re-elected.

Ward 2

The northwest ward is currently represented by incumbent Bev Esslinger. She is seeking re-election after one term on council. Esslinger is the only woman on the current council.

She has been effective, advocating for things in northwest Edmonton like the revitalization of Yellowhead Trail, extension of the northwest LRT, the proposed Blatchford neighbourhood development, and safety for women on Edmonton's transit system.

Esslinger is facing off against Shelley Tupperand Ali Haymour.

This is Tupper's fourth run for a seat on council.A retired federal public servant and a long-time community volunteer in Kensington, Tupper would in other circumstances be a strong contender. However, I just don't see her knocking off Esslinger.

Haymour is an Alberta sheriff running on a platform of freezing property taxes, fighting crime, promoting safety and abolishing photo radar.

I expect Esslinger to be re-elected by a comfortable margin in Ward 2.

Ward 3

This has the potential to be an interesting race.

The north Edmonton ward is currently represented by Dave Loken.

He is seeking re-election for a third term. Before being elected for the first time in 2010, Loken ranand failed to win in 2004 and 2007.

In both 2010 and 2013 Loken won by about 500 votes over his closest competitor. In this last term, Loken championed the city's traffic safety initiative along with incumbent Bev Esslinger. He chaired the Donate-a-Ride committee and has advocated for affordable housing in his ward.

This year he is being challenged by several strong candidates.

Jon Dziadykis an urban planner and a militaryofficer in the naval reserves. He is calling for lower property taxes, promoting crime prevention, and reducing the use of photo radar.

John Oplanich is running for council for the second time, having failed in his first attempt in 2010. A land developer, he is focusing his campaign on freezing property taxes, crime prevention, transparency and accountability.

Both Dziadyk and Oplanich say the north part of the city is being forgotten. Both say they would be stronger advocates for north Edmonton.

Karen Principeis a dental hygienist and a dedicated community volunteer. Sarmad Rasheedis an engineer and a businessman who is also a community volunteer.

It is unusual for a mayoral candidate to be seen supporting a councillor candidate.

I'm not sure if this signifies that Loken thinks he is in trouble, but it does indicate that he thinks that being seen campaigning with Iveson will help his campaign.

Ward 4

Ward 4 in northeast Edmonton is an open seat this election.

It has been ably represented by outgoing councillor Ed Gibbons for five terms from 2001 to 2017.

Twelve candidates are in the race. I will be watching four candidates who I believe have the best chances to win.

Rocco Caterinais the son of Ward 7 incumbent Tony Caterina. For the last 10 years he has served as his father's executive assistant at city hall.

This has given him a lot of political experience working on his father's campaigns. It has given him a good grasp of how city hall works, and has allowed him to develop an understanding of the issues in northeast Edmonton.

The name recognition that comes from being a Caterina in northeast Edmonton can be both a help and a hindrance. But he will be a strong contender in this election.

Another formidable candidate is Aaron Paquette.He has political experience as the NDP candidate in Edmonton Manning in the 2015 federal election campaign. He goes into the campaign with name recognition and a base of support in a big chunk of the ward.

Paquette is well known to many Edmontonians as an Indigenous artist, author and educator. He is focusing his campaign on the need for "a strong voice for northeast Edmonton."

Alison Poste is another candidate I am watching in this campaign.

She is an experienced public servant concentrating her campaign on an economic development plan for northeast Edmonton, better transit service, traffic safety and reducing the use of photo radar.

Tricia Velthuizen made waves last week with her call for a complete re-evaluation of the use of photo radar in the city.

• Council candidate calls for freeze of photo radar program

Criticizing photo radar is a smart political tactic because taking that position resonates with a segment of the electorate. Velthuizen also has political experience. She is currently on leave from her job as a research analyst with the United Conservative Party.

Ward 5

This southwest Edmonton ward was represented by Michael Oshry this last term.

He is not seeking re-election. This ward promises to be a closely fought race between three very capable women, with a former Progressive Conservative MLA also in the mix.

Sarah Hamiltonis a small business owner and communications professional who has political experience. She served as Stephen Mandel's press secretary when he was the health minister in Jim Prentice's PC government. Mandel was at Hamilton's campaign kickoff and has publicly endorsed her candidacy.

Dawn Newtonalso has business experience as senior manager of community affairs with Telus. She has also been an active member of the Women's Advocacy Voice of Edmonton (WAVE).

Miranda Jimmy is the program manager of the Edmonton Heritage Council. She is an Indigenous woman who has been door knocking in the ward for at least a year.

David Xiaois a wild card in this race.

Xiao is the former Progressive Conservative MLA for Edmonton McClung (2008-2015) in the western part of the ward. He has name recognition and campaign experience. We will see if that translates for him at the municipal level.

Several of these candidates have raised concerns about traffic impact from the west LRT, the possible use of bus rapid transit (BRT) rather than LRT; and the desire for more community input on the lot splitting that is happening for infill development.

Ward 6

Located in the core of the city, this ward is currently represented by Scott McKeen.

Ward 6 faces a broad range of issues, including poverty and homelessness in Boyle McCauley, concerns about development, the Imagine Jasper Avenue development between 109th and 124th streets, the new 102nd Avenue bike lane in Oliver, and concerns about infill in the western part of the ward.

• Downtown concerns raised at Ward 6 all-candidates forum

McKeen benefits from strong name recognition, as a councillor and as a former columnist with the Edmonton Journal. He was elected to council in 2013 after losing to Tony Caterina in Ward 7 in 2010.

McKeen has been a strong advocate for the downtown and Oliver but may face a challenge in Boyle McCauley and the western part of the ward.

He has faced a strong backlash from the business community in Chinatown over his support for the proposed safe injection sites in Boyle McCauley.

In the western part of the ward there is a lot of concern about lot splitting for the building of skinny homes in places like Westmount and Glenora.

Tish Prouse is a small business owner who ran unsuccessfully for council in Ward 7 in 2013.

He has been door-knocking in the ward since the spring. Prouse is focusing his campaign on homelessness a big issue in Boyle McCauley and on property tax increases, "the destructive approach to infill," and accountability at city hall.

Local businessman and philanthropist Bill Knightis running on a platform that is critical of the city's approach to infill, road and alley maintenance, and crime and safety.

Next week I will look at the councillor races in Wards 7 to 12.

• Edmonton Votes 2017: Learn about all 12 wards here