Big Apple political scene will get hot and huge in 2013: Experts

A growing field of candidates for the mayor's seat, city offices and a slew of City Council seats, combined with an election cycle that's up in the air, will ensure that next year's political scene is jam-packed.

For the first time in 12 years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and about 20 council members won't seek re-election because of term limits.

"Every so often the stars align in such a way that bedlam will ensue on Election Day. This is one of those years," political consultant Evan Stavisky said.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Comptroller John Liu and former Comptroller Bill Thompson are potential Democratic mayoral candidates while soon to be former MTA chief Joe Lhota might join Manhattan Media publisher Tom Allon on the GOP ticket.

A change in the election calendar may force all candidates to speed up the campaigns. The state may change the city's primary date from September to June.

Since many of the races will be decided by the primaries, Christina Greer, an assistant professor of political science at Fordham University, said candidates would start raising money and gathering support earlier than normal.

"You'll definitely see more aggressive races, especially in the Council," she said.