A year before Election Day, there's already a crowded field in the race to become Newton's next mayor, making this one of the most exciting contests of the 2009 cycle.

In the face of a looming fiscal crisis, Mayor David Cohen announced earlier this year that he would not seek a fourth term, sparking at least five candidates to announce or float the idea that they are running for the seat.

One candidate is state Rep. Ruth Balser, a Newton Democrat. Balser told PolitickerMA.com that Newton finds itself in a dire fiscal landscape and needs new leadership that will work in a new way to find solutions.

"Newton, like all municipalities right now, is facing very significant fiscal challenges," she said. "That's the biggest challenge: How to make sure people move to Newton because it is a wonderful place to live and has wonderful services."

Balser said she believes she understands the concerns of Newton's residents having represented them in the House for 10 years and for eight years as a city alderman. Balser also said she believes she has developed an effective leadership style by bringing people with different viewpoints together to hear all sides of an issue before making a decision.

"I think I've demonstrated that I am successful at solving problems," she said. "As an alderman, as a representative and as a psychologist as well, what my adult life has been about is solving problems. I think there is a style of solving problems that I have that would work well as the city executive."

Current Newton Alderman Ken Parker, who is also running for mayor, said the current city government has failed to provide effective leadership.

"What we don't do in Newton City Hall is we don't set goals and objective and we don't follow up to see if we've met goals and objectives," Parker said.

Parker, who said he has run two publishing companies, said he believes setting objective and periodically checking progress towards those goals is essential. His campaign, he added, is operating under that same formula. "We're running a campaign using the same types of techniques," Parker said.

In addition to the fiscal problems facing Newton, Parker said he will focus on improving Newton's public schools.

"Newton public schools are the glue that binds the community together," he said. "Any decline is a serious threat to the quality of life...Public education is the number one priority for Newton."

Parker also said that one of his goals would be that by the end of his first time as mayor, "people will say and it will be true that the Newton public schools will be the best in the country."

Setti Warren, another contender, brings perhaps the most diverse background. A former aide to U.S. Sen. John Kerry, he recently returned from deployment in Iraq. Warren said that he considered running for mayor in 2007 before he was involuntarily mobilized.

Warren said that, in particular, his background and experience have prepared him to lead Newton. In addition to his work for Kerry and military background, Warren has worked as FEMA's New England manager and served as a liaison to the Department of Justice and Treasury in President Bill Clinton's administration.

All of that experience, Warren said, has prepared him to lead in difficult circumstances.

"I've provided leadership at different levels of government," he said. "One of the most important things that a chief executive needs to be able to do is be able to handle unknown issues that may arise and be able to provide steady leadership."

Warren said Newton, like the rest of the country, faces an "unpredictable environment."

"We're in for some very difficult times," he said, "so you need a chief executive that can not only provide a plan but can be flexible enough to adjust to the circumstances in front of him."

Jeff Seideman is also considering a run. Seideman has been a strong voice in the community on fiscal issues as the cochairman of Newton for Fiscal Responsibility and head of the Newton Taxpayer's Foundation. Seideman said he is weighing whether he will run for mayor or for alderman and said that how much money he is able to raise will likely be a determining factor; he expects it will cost significantly less to run for alderman.

"I have been seeing people, getting advice, getting input and speaking to people who are potential donors," Seideman, who also ran for alderman in 2007, said.

Alderman Paul Coletti has also announced he is running for mayor but did not return several phone calls requesting an interview for this story.