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Fourteen candidates -- including 13 newcomers and one political veteran -- will be jostling for five seats on the City Council on Nov. 3.

A few, including former school board member Gail Price and planning commissioner Karen Holman, hope to bring years of civic engagement and policymaking experience to a larger stage. One, Larry Klein, is an incumbent seeking his fourth term on the nine-member council.

The vast majority are political neophytes seeking to inject what they call "fresh voices" into the city's legislative process. Some were encouraged to run by political veterans. Others said they simply want to give back to the community that has given them so much. Others have particular issues that are motivating their campaigns.

One candidate, Corey Levens, wants to fundamentally change how the City Council conducts its business. Another candidate, John Hackmann, calls himself a "problem solver" and hopes to use his public-policy experience to tackle the city's $10 million-and-growing budget problem. Greg Scharff wants the council to better represent business interests, while Victor Frost says he's tired of the homeless having to eat "Dumpster food" and wants them to have a garden that would supply fresh vegetables.

There are commonalities among those seeking a council seat, who in addition to Klein, Holman, Price, Levens, Hackmann, Scharff and Frost include Brian Steen, Mark Weiss, Nancy Shepherd, Dan Dykwel, Leon Leong, Chris Gaither and Tim Gray. (View a map of where the candidates live in Palo Alto).

Just about every candidate says he or she wants to protect Palo Alto neighborhoods from large, transformational forces lurking on the horizon -- the high-speed rail, the growing budget gap and state mandates calling for the city to provide more housing.

The candidates are vying to fill the seats alongside council members Pat Burt, Sid Espinosa, Yiaway Yeh and Greg Schmid, all of whom are completing their first terms on their council.

The following is the second installment of the Weekly's two-part series profiling the 14 candidates for Palo Alto City Council. The features are presented here in random order.

■ Tim Gray

■ John Hackmann

■ Karen Holman

■ Greg Scharff

■ Gail Price

■ Corey Levens

■ Victor Frost