A record number of candidates will be running for Ottawa city council in October's municipal election.

City officials say they expect more than 100 people to register in the races for mayor and city council.

Already, 95 people have said they'll run for council in October, said Kathy Bergeron of the City of Ottawa Elections Office. "That's the highest since amalgamation and now the ballot is going legal size."

It's a big change from the last civic election, when only two candidates ran in many wards in the city, which has 601,000 voters.

Many candidates this time say the need to shake up council motivated them.

"I know I'm not so good at shouting," said Isabel Metcalfe, who is running in Ward 17 Capital. "I'm much better at doing."

While many candidates are newcomers, plenty already know the inner workings of City Hall. Mike Maguire was a policy adviser for Mayor Larry O'Brien in the last election, but is now running against O'Brien and the city's plans to build a light-rail transit link.

"The cost of service like this is going to be between $300 and $400 million a year," Maguire said.

In total, 13 people so far are running for the mayor's job, including O'Brien. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 10.

With nearly 100 candidates already registered, election officials say the Oct. 25 vote will cost about $4 million.