Four people have confirmed they are standing for the Tauranga mayoralty in the local body elections, which are eight months away.

Deputy mayor Kelvin Clout, finance committee chairman John Robson, former councillor Murray Guy and Trustpower community relations manager Graeme Purches have all thrown hat in the ring for the top job.

Kelvin Clout, John Robson, Graeme Purches and Murray Guy are running for mayor.

Incumbent Stuart Crosby has been saying since the last election in 2013 that this would be his last term.

Graeme Purches originally intended to stand for the city council three elections ago, but ‘got crook' and pulled the pin. He's arranged his retirement with Trustpower to coincide with the election year.

Graeme was originally going for council but was advised by a number of people, including some of the current team, that he need to stand for the mayor's job as well.

'I've had a relationship with councils in a whole bunch of regions as part of my job here over the last 17 years,” says Graeme.

'I've currently got a relationship with 28 mayors and CEOs around the country, and I'm currently chair of council owned property company for the last three years.

'So I've got a really good understanding of what works and what doesn't work in local government and some of the challenges they face. I'm under no illusions. I know half of what council does is bound by legislation.

'I think there's a lot of opportunities to do things better than they have been done. And the big thing is there is an absolute need for some vision. We need to have a vision that everybody knows and understands and looks 20-30 years ahead and all of our planning should be based around that.”

Graeme's promising a campaign of 'no billboards, no B.S”

Stuart Crosby will not be running for mayor this year.

Former city councillor Murray Guy is standing again for council and the mayoralty, and thinks there will be more contenders for the mayor's seat.

'There will be others to come out once Paul Adams' candidate comes forward and stuff,” says Murray – referring to Paul Adams' campaigns to re-build the city centre and a rugby stadium on The Domain.

Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout is also re-standing, along with John Robson.

Both have been contacted for comment and have not yet responded.

A quick poll of other councillors found no other mayoral candidates, at present.

Steve Morris is gauging public support. 'If I thought I could win, I would do it.”

He says the new mayor should come from the current council, as with private sectors boards that normally promote from within - or if from outside, someone with experience in the same industry.

'A lot of people go for the mayoralty because of that extra profile,” says Steve. 'Don't stand for the council and the mayoralty just for the profile.”