Never one to operate by anyone’s schedule but his own, Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) finally picked up his nominating petitions for the April 3, 2012 Democratic primary yesterday afternoon. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the mayor-for-life is running for re-election again.

Despite facing field of challengers that has grown to seven, Barry, who will turn 76 next March, seems to up for the challenge of representing the District’s poorest ward for a third term. In fact, a field that big only seems to help Barry — in 2008, he beat four challengers, while in 2004, he bested six. Next year, he faces two people he beat in 2004 — Sandra Seegars and Jacque Patterson — and one of his former spokespeople, Natalie Williams.

Next year’s election is certainly symbolic for Barry — it will mark 40 years since his first entrance into public service as a member of the District’s school board. For many, that’s many terms too many, and they’d like Barry to go quietly into retirement. (That’s not going to happen, of course.)

Barry has had something of a quiet year, at least insofar as he goes. He joined Twitter — and he’s awesome at it — and treated the local press corps to a show when he drove his busted Jaguar around on Pennsylvania Avenue. He did ruffle some feathers when he referred to his own bailiwick as a “ghetto,” though, and angered many when he said he was planning on only serving half a term and appointing his son Christopher to just take over for him.

If you’re still scratching your head and wondering how it is that Barry has remained popular and electable for so long, remember that The Nine Lives of Marion Barry is available on Hulu.