With minutes to spare before Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline, Northfield Mayor Lee Lansing showed up at City Hall to file for a second term, facing off against six opponents in an election that promises more of the turmoil that has dominated local politics in the last year.

Litigation, investigations and sparring between Lansing and the City Council have all become recurring themes at public meetings in Northfield. But with five of seven council seats up for grabs, many of the 15 candidates who have filed for office say they're eager to make a fresh start in November.

"Basically, there's three reasons I'm running: Leadership, leadership and leadership," said Dana Graham, a former council member who said he believes anti-incumbent sentiment is running high among voters.

Tension has built for more than a year between Lansing and the rest of the council, which called for the mayor to resign in December after a city-hired investigator found he had used his office for unethical purposes. Among other things, the investigator found he pushed behind the scenes to relocate a city liquor store to property owned by his son. Lansing sued the city, three council members and City Administrator Al Roder last fall over city discussions about his family's business interests, though the suit was later dropped.

Work on some city projects has stalled largely because of the mayor, who continues to threaten the city with legal action and won't stick to standard procedures for running the city, said Kris Vohs, who is running for his third council term.

On Tuesday, Lansing denied making legal threats and said he anticipates a healthy debate that will show voters he's not to blame for the problems the council has faced. "It's kind of easy to be a target," he said.

Two council members, Scott Davis and Arnie Nelson, have decided not to run for reelection. A fifth council seat held by Noah Cashman, who resigned this month for personal reasons, will be filled in November, but filing for his seat won't begin until the end of August.

Roder also resigned last month to take another job.

Several candidates said turnover at City Hall will give new leaders a chance to restore civic pride and focus on issues.

To be able to do that, said mayoral candidate Mary Rossing: "We need to pay more attention to the relationships that have been a stickler for the current mayor, council and staff."

Sarah Lemagie • 952-882-9016