Here’s a look at the crowded field of Democrats lining up for the at-large race. Next week, Republicans and independents.

The horse-racing metaphors are almost unavoidable. It’s a crowded field, a clear track and they’re off and running. And as the 12 Democratic candidates for Council at-large jockey for position at the first turn, there’s no clear front-runner. The five incumbents, David Cohen, Angel Ortiz, Blondell Reynolds-Brown, Jim Kenney and W. Wilson Goode Jr., face a formidable array of challengers who’d like to see them come up lame and take an early retirement. They include lawyers and businessmen, political insiders and a former city official. Why should you care who wins? Because the City Council class of 2003 will literally shape the future of the city. They’ll set policy and enact legislation that will affect every citizen for years to come, all while freely spending your hard-earned tax dollars to do it. Note the number of city programs and policy initiatives in limbo, unfinished or on the bubble, and you get an idea of how important these folks will be in the next few years. There’s the public-school takeover and its aftermath, the mayor’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative still in its infancy stages, Live Stop and Operation Safe Streets, the tooth-and-nail fights over wage taxes, property taxes and business taxes and the effort to bolster the city’s dwindling tax base by keeping young professionals and graduating college students here in town, just to name a few. Factor in the contentious relationship between some current Council members and the mayor on some of these issues, and it’s clear that the new crop of members could certainly change the tone and tenor of Philadelphia City Council regardless of whether Mayor Street is re-elected.

In keeping with our racing theme, and at the risk of beating a dead horse, here's our decidedly unprofessional and almost totally arbitrary handicapping of the dozen entrants: who's who, what they stand for and why they want your vote on May 20. First, the incumbents:

Blondell Reynolds-Brown: Elected to Council in 1999, Reynolds-Brown, a former schoolteacher and professional dancer who served on the staffs of Congressman Chaka Fattah and State Sen. Vincent Hughes, is a strong advocate for the city's arts and cultural community. She often uses her experience as a teacher to lobby for increased educational funding and programs for city schools. One of Reynolds-Brown's proudest accomplishments as a Council member was creating a "Fund for Children," whereby the Phillies and Eagles will each contribute $1 million per year for the next 30 years for children's programs. 3 to1

W. Wilson Goode Jr.: The son of the city's first African-American mayor, Goode was also elected in 1999, and at the age of 35 is the youngest member of City Council. Chosen as one of Business Philadelphia's 100 People to Watch, Goode's platform and priorities stress economic development as the key to Philadelphia's future. A graduate of Central High and the University of Pennsylvania, Goode served on various economic development boards before running for Council at-large. 3 to 1

Angel Ortiz: One of Council's most recognizable characters, Ortiz has been a liberal stalwart and tireless advocate for Philadelphia's Latino community. Ortiz made headlines last year with the revelation that he'd been driving for years on an expired license, and more recently for his campaign to end the use of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques as a naval target range and his principled stand against the USA Patriot Act and what he calls "the erosion of our civil liberties since the tragedy of 9/11." 15 to 1

Jim Kenney: The "quality of life" councilman, Kenney has made his mission the little things that make Philadelphia a wonderful or horrible place to live. Trash removal, graffiti, urban blight and aggressive panhandlers have all been in his sights since he was first elected to Council in 1992, and more often than not, Kenney has gotten his point across. The 44-year-old Kenney prides himself on his political independence and personal candor. Even money

David Cohen: At 88, the oldest member of City Council, Cohen has been in public service since before some of his colleagues were born. A strong supporter of labor and champion of the poor, the self-titled "Roosevelt Democrat" scoffs at recent thinly veiled suggestions that he's long past his prime and should consider stepping aside for a younger, more energetic candidate. Despite his age, Cohen insists he's as active and energetic a member of Council as any of the whippersnappers now serving and can outwork, outmaneuver and outlast any of them. 2 to 1

The challengers:

Juan Ramos: A former city official specializing in labor issues, Ramos is generating buzz in the Latino community as a serious challenge to Angel Ortiz. Three key Latino ward leaders have endorsed Ramos, as has Mayor Street. The city's Democratic committee endorsed all at-large incumbents except Ortiz, which Ramos sees as his ticket in. If elected, Ramos pledges to maintain an open-door policy and serve every citizen of Philadelphia, saying that those who choose to stay in the city deserve someone to fight by their side, not encourage them to leave for the suburbs. 30 to 1

Joe Grace: A lawyer, former Daily News City Hall reporter and political operative, Grace has recently worked on the successful re-election campaigns of Joe Hoeffel and Lynne Abraham after serving for several years on the staff of his political mentor, former Congressman Bob Borski. Grace, a Northeast Philly native, says that as a true lover of all things Philadelphia he shares the taxpayer's disappointment at the neglect of city treasures like Fairmount Park and the waterfront, and will actively seek to relieve the crushing weight of the city's property, business and wage-tax burdens. 20 to 1

Peter Fiorentino: An attorney who served for three years on the staff of City Council President Anna Verna, Fiorentino knows the members of Council well, and says that the incumbents are basically good people who could use some new ideas. Now in private practice as a criminal defense lawyer, Fiorentino says that as councilman he'd stress fiscal responsibility, start a rainy-day fund as a hedge against financial hard times and reduce the city's wage tax to three percent in five years. The 34-year-old South Philly native still lives in the old neighborhood with Helen, his wife of two years. 25 to 1

Mike Driscoll: Northeast Philadelphia native Driscoll is co-owner of Finnigan's Wake, one of Philly's most popular taverns. Holding a master's degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Driscoll is a certified schoolteacher who served in the cabinet of former Gov. Robert Casey and founded the Lazarus Foundation, which assists brain-injured children with medical care and therapy. President of the United Tavern Owners of Philadelphia, Driscoll, whose campaign platform focuses on assisting small business owners, currently lives in East Torresdale with his wife and four children. 20 to 1

Dawn Marie Tancredi: A Philadelphia family law attorney, Tancredi is an avid athlete who participates in the Philadelphia Bar Association's 5K and 10K runs every year, as well as rowing in the Dad Vail regatta. The only woman in the race apart from incumbent Blondell Reynolds-Brown, the 29-year-old Tancredi says that she'll bring new energy and new ideas to City Council, and be a strong voice for women and young professionals. The St. Joe's grad and lifelong South Philly resident will focus on schools and economic development, as well as promoting entrepreneurship and new businesses as the key to revitalizing city neighborhoods. 75 to 1

Daniel Pelliccoitti: Pelliccoitti, who lists his occupation as "construction manager" isn't listed in any Philadelphia phone directory and hasn't made so much as a peep as of this writing. We're hoping Mr. Pelliccoitti's visibility factor rises in the next few weeks. 85 to 1

John King: King lists his occupation as "salesman," but for the life of us we couldn't find him or any information about him. The only thing we know for sure is that it's not the same John King who currently works as City Paper's circulation director. 1000 to 1