When the City Clerk’s office announced on Monday that the nomination period – 23 days to go – had opened for candidates for April’s City Council election, there was no need to brace for a stampede.

Culver City turned noiseless.

By the newspapers, there is a healthy field of contenders for the seats that will open when  Jim Clarke and Mayor Jeff Cooper are termed out.

By City Clerk Jeremy Green’s office, traffic is invisible.

She has appointments with announced and presumed candidates.

How many is she meeting with?

She smiled and declined to disclose the number.

Since last summer, pop talk Downtown has been that the field will fatten up to nine. Presently, they must be on a diet.

Marcus Tiggs, Alex Fisch, Daniel Lee and Albert Vera have staged kickoff parties. Almost regardless of who else files, these four likely will end up as the favorites.

Jan. 12 at 5:30 is the filing deadline.

“I will not have any information until someone returns nomination papers,” Ms. Green said.

She cannot estimate the contours of the field because “it still is very early in the process. I don’t dare make a guess.”