HAGERSTOWN, MD - In a swift move Hagerstown city council members have narrowed down the number of applicants for council.

Only six candidates remain in the running to replace Kristin Aleshire's council seat.

Council members and Mayor Bruchey met Tuesday night at their weekly meeting and decided not to release the names of those six people until all of the remaining candidates have been notified. 

However, Mayor Bruchey told NBC25 the council decided to remove from the list two applicants who are related to current council members.

Mayor Bruchey said “It would be a violation of the code of ethics in order for the council members to sit and review either candidates who are related to them or the remaining candidates even if they weren't related to them because there could be some biased opinions there."

That means Kelly Cromer's husband, Steven Cromer and Penny Nigh's brother, Gary Swartz are out of the running.  Mayor Bruchey told NBC25 other candidates were disqualified for not living within city limits and for being employed by the federal government.

The council unanimously decided to keep six candidates in the running.  The council is expected to release the names of those six people on Friday.