Two men announced they are throwing their hats into the race for mayor of Regina this morning bringing the tally up to four candidates.

Councillor Michael Fougere announced his intention at a news conference at the Delta Hotel Tuesday morning. He made it clear that if elected he wants to see the current redevelopment projects go through.

Mayor Pat Fiacco was in the front row ready to endorse him.

“The race doesn’t start (until) September, really, this is early. We’ll see what happens – I hope he wins,” said Fiacco.

Fiacco added that Fougere believes in the vision for the city and he thinks this gives him a good chance of winning. Although his decision not to run was personal he said he feels better knowing that Fougere has stepped into the race.

Fougere was also backed up by a line of all but two of his fellow city councillors.

Local accountant, Chad Novak also entered the race for mayor on Tuesday. He originally planned to run as a city councillor, but changed his mind when he heard Fiacco was not returning. He expects to see more candidates entering the race in the next few months.

"I really didn't feel it was necessary to challenge him in a mayoral race because I was looking forward to working with him for the next four years," said Novak.

He added that he hopes to meet with the current mayor to discuss his intentions and maybe get some feedback on a personal and professional level.

Novak described how he is beginning to connect the dots of a strategy - starting with 150 post-it notes on his desk at home. He explained one idea.

“I don’t want us to make us grow so fast that we’re having to jack up property taxes by ten per cent each year – especially as an accountant that seems to be a very unreal expectation of myself,” Novak said.

He's planning to have more details about his own platform next month.

Edited by News Talk Radio's Sabeen Ahmad and Adriana Christianson with files from Samantha Maciag