We’ve had a bit of lull in campaigning since the April 3 D.C. primary—spare the May 15 special election in Ward 5—but with last week’s release of nominating petitions for the November 6 general election (and special election), it’s going to start heating up quickly again.

A few well-known D.C. figures picked up petitions last week, including Leon Swain, the former head of the D.C. Taxicab Commission, who is running as an independent for the At-Large seat currently held by Councilmember Michael A. Brown (I-At Large). Swain is probably best known for having worn a wire during his tenure atop the Taxicab Commission as part of an FBI investigation. He accepted $250,000 in bribes from taxicab operators, resulting in cases against more than three dozen of them. (The Post recently had a great profile of Swain, who was replaced by Mayor Vince Gray.)

As for why he’s running for office, he told the Post’s Tim Craig:

“After a lot of things I have seen down at the city council and a lot of things I have seen in the city, a lot of people have come up and asked me to run,” said Swain, a former Democrat who lives in Congress Heights. “I prayed about it, thought about it, and decided to enter the race.

Should he make the ballot, Swain will be up against Brown, fellow independent David Grosso, Republican Mary Brooks Beatty, and Statehood Green Anne Wilcox.

Another interesting addition to the city’s political campaigns is Bruce Majors, who is considering a run against D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton as a libertarian. Majors, who is a realtor by day, is probably best known for having authored the 2010 Tea Party Guide to D.C., in which he warned conservative activists visiting the city to stick to the Red Line and avoid most of the Green Line at all costs.

In a statement, Majors sells his candidacy on being a true alternative to Democrats and Republicans in D.C.

“The two-party system has been an abysmal failure for the residents of the District of Columbia. Republicans have been unable to compete in DC and Democrats have been unable or unwilling to end rampant corruption in the city on all levels. It is time for another option for DC voters. I am launching this exploratory committee to consider a run as a Libertarian. I believe that the Libertarian Party, which is fiscally responsible and socially tolerant, represents the values that most citizens of the District,” he stated.

Majors said he would push for lower taxes and fewer regulations on businesses, but also to repeal the Patriot Act, decriminalize marijuana and protect same-sex marriage.

As for the special election for D.C. Council Chair, which is set to coincide with the general election, current chairman Phil Mendelson picked up his petitions today, as he had promised. While Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) hasn’t yet reciprocated, perma-candidate and current Ward 7 representative on the State Board of Education Dorothy Douglas has, as has former Ward 5 candidate John Cheeks and Statehood Green Robert L. Matthews.

It takes 3,000 signatures to get on the ballot for the citywide seats, and candidates have until August 8 to collect them.