Vasile Cepoi is running for a fourth term as mayor of Draguseni, a northeastern town of 2,500 people. Both of his challengers in Sunday's election also are called Vasile Cepoi.
Town hall official Viorel Munteanu said Friday that the three contenders are not related. Cepoi is a common family name in the region and Vasile is a popular male name in Romania.
Local media have suggested that the name coincidence could be a ruse by other parties to get their candidates elected.