A Victoria mayoral candidate says the large number of candidates running for council is turning the race into an unmanageable circus.

As if to underscore the point, one candidate turned up at a recent all-candidates meeting wearing a clown's nose and hollering at voters.

Dean Fortin says with 35 people vying for eight seats on council, and eight candidates for mayor, all-candidates meetings have become difficult.

"To see sometimes a circus taking place … to watch people who really want to be informed in making their vote, to watch them get up and leave, that it is not conducive to the democratic process," said Fortin.

At one recent debate, organizers had to limit answers to questions to three candidates, each with just one minute to respond.

Fortin says it is time to raise the requirements for citizens who want to run in municipal elections. In Victoria, it takes just $25 and two nominations to get your name on the candidates list.

Vancouver changed the rules in 1999 to reduce what it called nuisance candidates, and it now cost costs $100 and requires 25 nominators to enter that municipal race.

Fortin says he doesn't favour increasing the cost of entering the race, but he'd like to increase the number of nominators it takes to get on the ballot.

"We don't want to shut out someone's voice, but at the same time, we don't want to frivolize or frankly disrespect the democratic process," said Fortin.

In the meantime, it appears some Victoria council candidates are also frustrated with the overcrowded field. Over the weekend they organized their own all-candidates meeting, allocating a longer period of time for each to speak.