The 60-day race for the City Council seat representing Waimanalo, Kailua and most of Kane'ohe is expected to attract a sizeable field during the next several weeks.

The City Council this week will decide the details and deadlines for the special election, which was made necessary by the death of Councilwoman Barbara Marshall on Sunday. Key issues for the district include bed-and-breakfast regulation, property taxes and opposition to rail.

"Those are going to be issues, and someone who's going to run to fill her vacancy is going to have to respond on certainly those issues: rail, bed-and-breakfast and property taxes," said state Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai). "When there's an open seat like that, it will be hotly contested.

"I think there'll be some very capable people running. The people of this council district, I think, will have a good choice."

The council today will release more details about the special election. The term runs until January 2013.

Likely contenders for the seat include former Councilman John Henry Felix, who is chairman and chief executive officer for the Hawaii Medical Assurance Association, and longtime Waimanalo Neighborhood Board Chairman Wilson Kekoa Ho, Hemmings said.

Other potential candidates include Leigh Prentiss, who, like Ho, had previously challenged Marshall for her council seat. Shawn Christensen and Ikaika Anderson, who both have run for the Waimanalo/Kailua state House seat, also could be contenders. Prentiss yesterday said she would run for the City Council seat. Christensen, a freelance film technician and union member, and Anderson, a Marshall aide and legislative clerk and researcher, said they're considering running.

"I think there are a number of individuals that'll probably come forward," Sen. Jill Tokuda, D-24th (Kane'ohe, Kailua).

The successful candidate will need to heed area concerns about rising property taxes and urban encroachment, she said.

"I think when (constituents) look at candidates, they will look at, No. 1, who will help make Hawai'i affordable in terms of the cost of living," Tokuda said. "That's a big concern for our working families right now."

As with any election, name recognition and strong financial backing will be key attributes for City Council candidates, said Ira Rohter, a political science professor at the University of Hawai'i. However, the successful candidate also will likely need to demonstrate a long-term, serious commitment to community involvement, he said.

"People who have been actively engaged in the community are going to have a great advantage," Rohter said.

In the near term, the loss of Marshall is not expected to affect day-to-day operations at the council, which had been meeting regularly without her since late last year. However, in the long term, whoever fills that seat could play a pivotal role in any possible council reorganization and on ongoing issues such as Honolulu's planned $5.4 billion commuter rail and the continued use of the Waimanalo Gulch landfill.

Under the City Charter, the council must hold a special election in the district no later than April 23. If the election were held on that day, the earliest a candidate could take office would be May 14.

Until a ninth member is added, "We'll continue to operate fine," Council Chairman Todd Apo said. "I think we're dealing with things on an issues basis and not on a personality or on a political basis.

"As council chair, I'm going to make sure operations continue on a very good clip."