Most Cambridge City Council candidates support rent stabilization as a tool for protecting the city’s tenants, voters learned at a Tuesday political forum.

Sixteen candidates out of 24 participated in a Sunday forum, including two of six CIty Council incumbents, despite it being the first of the 2023 election season and a co-production of seven city groups, including two of its oldest.

Politicking for the Nov. 7 elections began in earnest Monday in Cambridge with three challengers for City Council explaining their campaign focuses. 

Quinton Zondervan, a three-term Cambridge city councillor, called his time in office “the honor of my life” but said he has decided not to seek reelection.

Cathie Zusy, a force behind several neighborhood projects and a former museum curator, announced on Thursday a run for Cambridge City Council, adding to the numbers taking out nomination papers to get on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Joe McGuirk is running a second time for Cambridge City Council touting a different background from most candidates: as a longtime restaurant worker. 

Paul Toner’s announcement for a reelection campaign led with endorsements, noting the support of former city councillors and state representative.

Two incumbents on Cambridge’s City Council declared Thursday that they are running for reelection: Marc McGovern, first elected in 2013 and now seeking his sixth term in office; and Burhan Azeem, running for a second term.

City councillor Dennis Carlone has decided against running for a sixth term in office, he said in a letter to the community published Wednesday.

Cambridge’s City Council elections got their first official challenger on Thursday, and it’s a former incumbent who served on the body 2020-2021.