Motley is the only word for the list of candidates who filed their paperwork today to replace Robert Liberty on the Metro council: "Composed of diverse often incongruous elements."

The list includes: a retired consultant, a heating salesman, a "former project manager", a plumbing company bookkeeper, a US postal service clerk, a labor consultant/ex-legislator, the man who just missed winning the Metro president seat, and, oh yeah, a former governor.

This reminds me of that time when Gary Coleman, Arianna Huffington, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Gallagher ran for California governor.

The full list of eight candidates is below the cut, but the big news here is that the entrance of former governor Barbara Roberts completely changes what was looking to be a race basically between front-runners Bob Shiprack and Bob Stacey. Metro Council appoints the next member, so they might be excited about choosing a bigwig like Roberts.

Here's the full list from Metro:

Martha Dibblee, a retired health physicist and consultant who has served on the Energy Facility Siting Council and the board of the Climate Trust.

Kenneth Heggem, a sales representative with Columbia Northwest Heating and board member of the Woodstock Neighborhood Association.

Jonathan Levine, a former project manager with the University of Western States.

Walt Nichols, a bookkeeper with Watson Plumbing Co. and chair of the Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association. Nichols was an unsuccessful candidate for Portland City Council in 2010.

Alesia Reese, a clerk with the U.S. Postal Service and member of the Parkrose School District board. She is also chair of the Woodland Park Neighborhood Association and the East Portland Parks Coalition.

Barbara Roberts, former Oregon Governor.

Bob Shiprack, a labor relations consultant for Pac/West Communications and a former executive secretary of the Oregon State Building Trades Council. He served six terms in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995.

Bob Stacey, a consultant and former executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon. He also served as chief of staff to Congressman Earl Blumenauer and as executive director of policy and planning for TriMet. Stacey was an unsuccessful candidate for Metro Council President in 2010.