Six new faces will join Colchester Borough Council next month after the elections.
One-third of the council - 20 seats - are up for re-election on Thursday May 22.
Six current councillors have decided to step down ahead of this year’s polls, including stalwarts Sonia Lewis, Terry Sutton and the current mayor Colin Sykes.
One other new face could also join the council ranks later in the year when the by-election for the Wivenhoe Quay ward is held following the death of councillor Steve Ford.
The Green party is challenging every seat in the upcoming round of elections, along with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Conservative parties.
The UK Independence Party have candidates in 14 of the seats.
Gerard Oxford, current councillor for Highwoods, is standing again as part of the Highwoods Independent Group, which is part of the existing coalition administration.
One other independent is standing, Christina Perdicou in the Shrub End ward.
Nominations closed at 4pm today.
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