Pick One!

Campaign gurus: Political consultant Randy Steinman (Kansans for Lifesaving Cures paid him $25,000 for campaign consulting on the Missouri stem cell ballot issue in 2006) and campaign coordinator Bill Worley.

Relationship with Kay Barnes: Renfield to the mayor's Dracula

Proud moments: Eddy likes to take credit for the remodeling and reopening of the President Hotel and the Bartle Hall expansion. "Dr. Eddy," as he likes to be called, also spearheaded Kansas City's proposed smoking ban, over the protests of bar and restaurant owners.

Political indignity: The eye-catching "Anyone but Eddy" banner on the lawn of Ward Parkway homeowner and Davey's Uptown manager Mike Curry. "I realized he was trying to increase his political base for his mayoral run with a big push for the smoking ban ... without any thought of whose jobs or incomes or livelihoods might be affected by it," says Curry, whose nickname is Mokie (because, he says, "I smok-ie way too much").

Should be embarrassed about: Eddy is moving forward with a plan to upgrade the bridge over Red Bridge Road near the Grandview Triangle, citing safety concerns for motorists. A group of homeowners opposes the plan and accuses him of siding with the trucking industry instead of the citizens of his district.

Entourage: Various Shriners, Masons, Optimists, Rotarians and a Popeyes-franchise-owning family

Memorable campaign moment: Eddy's mayoral announcement last April at the President Hotel was attended by campaign coordinator Worley in costume as Harry Truman.

Somewhat revealing personal detail: Eddy plays the drums and sings with the Chuck Eddy Band, which has played gigs at the Drum Room in the President Hotel. "It's not what you would call a rock band, but they play upbeat music, and some slow-dance tunes," Worley says. Eddy also plays with the Tailgate Band in the parking lot at Arrowhead Stadium before Chiefs games.

Fashion statement: A red vest at Christmas.

Rolls in: A 2003 GMC Envoy SUV, a 1990 Cadillac Seville, a 1977 Honda MC 750 CC motorcycle

Looks like: Mr. Potato Head

Janice Ellis
One-line bio: Raised on a farm in Mississippi, Ellis eventually earned a Ph.D.; most recently, she ran a nonprofit child-advocacy group called the Partnership for Children.

Campaign guru: Luther Washington, chief strategist for Emanuel Cleaver's mayoral and congressional campaigns

Power spouse: E. Frank Ellis, chairman and CEO of Swope Community Enterprises (Swope Health Services, Swope Community Builders and the Applied Urban Research Institute)

Rich and powerful donors: Herself — she has lent her campaign $74,413; Barnett Helzberg Jr. ($4,275); Julia Irene Kauffman ($1,000); Crosby Kemper ($1,000); Kansas City Power & Light CEO Michael Chesser and his wife, Susan ($6,000).

Previous career: From 2000 until 2006, Ellis was president and CEO of Partnership for Children.

Big idea: Her "Covenant with Kansas City" specifically targets the Kansas City School District. Ellis says she wants to be "the education mayor," wishes to meet directly with school superintendents and will fund after-school programs, particularly for middle-schoolers. Other tenets of her covenant address the city's housing development, crime rate, funding for arts and culture, and downtown development.

Strengths: Ellis has a doctorate in communication from the University of Wisconsin. (She notes that she is the only one of her six siblings to finish college.) She's also a captivating storyteller, especially with her tales of growing up picking cotton on her father's farm in Mississippi. "My dad grew everything that we ate, pretty much," she says. "I didn't realize how healthy we ate until I left, even though we were poor. We couldn't afford candy or junk food, so we have great teeth."

Weaknesses: Ellis comes off as schoolmarmy; her previous experience with students and her emphasis on education make people wonder why she doesn't just run for the school board.

Political indignity: When Jim Rowland left the City Council to head the Jackson County Sports Authority last January, Ellis was one of several people who applied to replace him; she ended up as a finalist, along with George Blackwood. After the council repeatedly deadlocked 6-6 — with all the other council members who are currently running for mayor (except for Brooks) voting against her — Ellis finally bowed out in late February.

Should be embarrassed about: The report issued by the Kansas City Crime Commission, of which she was a member (see "Empty-gesture alert," under Al Brooks).

Memorable campaign moment: At a campaign stop at the Rockhill Club, Ellis noted that none of her six siblings had ever gone to jail.

Fashion statement: Floor-length red coat

Rolls in: A 2000 Jaguar XJ8, a 2005 V6 Cadillac SRX SUV

Rebellious toy: 1992 Honda MC 1500 motorcycle. "We haven't ridden it far," Ellis says, "but I'm brave enough to get on the back with him [husband Frank]. I'm not brave enough to drive it."

Looks like: Marla Gibbs of The Jeffersons

John Fairfield
One-line bio: Fairfield is a Northland lawyer and business promoter who rarely meets an economic development incentive he doesn't like.

Campaign guru: Enrique Chaurand, former public affairs specialist for President Bill Clinton and policy analyst for Missouri Gov. Bob Holden