So, the last time we checked, our Portland City Council is going to receive the biggest face-lift in recent memory: 3/5 of the positions are guaranteed to be held by new occupants, and at least two new faces will join the Council. Count Randy Leonard's near-certain walk to re-election, and that leaves poor Dan Saltzman feeling mighty left out.

But while the Mayor's race and the race to replace Commissioner Sam Adams are well-known quantities, the election for Erik Sten's chair is only now coming into focus.

For a while, it had looked like it would be a three-headed monster: Brendan Finn, chief-of-staff to Comm. Saltzman; Jim Middaugh, chief-of-staff to Comm. Sten; and former candidate Nick Fish. I really like these monster battles, and I can't wait to see what happens for Sam's seat. But that race is a little different, as people have been declared for months, pursuing public financing. Sten's race is a mess: limited time to grab that public money, coalition-build, and gather grassroots support.

But things just became much clearer: Brendan Finn has decided against running. As reported by the Mercury, Finn cited his ongoing work in Saltzman's office and the overwhelming time commitment in deciding against a formal bid. Personally, I applaud Finn's decision. I would have loved to see him run, as his experience would have brought a lot to bear on the race, but if he feels he can better serve the city in his current capacity, then I'm all for it. After this election cycle, Saltzman will be one of the most senior members of the Councill, and having a seasoned chief-of-staff will go a long way to making his office effective and powerful. Besides, Finn's young and will have many chances down the road.

So, what's left? Theoretically, we have a classic "insider-outsider" race, pitting a tried-and-true staffer against a community member. But the recent developments render that distinction moot. Middaugh gathered an astounding 1,682 signatures in a matter of weeks and will most likely qualify for public financing in the coming days. This tremendous grassroots outpouring demonstrates his viability and goes a long way to dispelling any potential problems being an "insider" would give him. Plus, from what I hear, everyone likes him.

Meanwhile, there's Nick Fish. The almost-winner for Sam's present seat, Nick has to be viewed as an even-money bet against Middaugh, if not an outright favorite. He has spent the past several years hosting an important Sunday-morning civics show while cultivating his community ties. While he was fresh three years ago, he's going to be more seasoned this time around: in the campaign, in appearance, in everything.

I can't wait to see how this race develops. While there are other candidates, I don't know much about them and I can't realistically view them as viable until they prove otherwise. I would happy to have this demonstrated, however. Do you have any thoughts on this race? Did Finn's announcement surprise you? What's your take: Middaugh or Fish?