The more ostensibly frum candidates, the better chance of splitting the Chareidii vote….other possible candidates include Meir Porush and Ze’ev Elkin. Porush would be and especially fun choice since it would give the Gerrer Rebbe and opportunity to do “political tshuvah” for getting Barkat elected several years ago.
The Gedolim do not have the final say on who becomes the mayor of Jerusalem. A frum person could run with the support of the Gedolim, but then the Chilonim and Arabs could vote for someone else as have happend a few times
Zahavasdad, By the coming elections the Chareidi vote will probably decide who is mayor as the frum population is reaching the half point of Yerushalayim’s citizens.