Najma Hafeez, the current chairwoman of the NHS trust, is amid five Labour politicians attempting to become the party’s candidate far along this summer.
Ms Hafeez has spent 12 years on the Birmingham City Council after being elected in 1983.
The management consultant is also the ex-wife of former leader Sir Albert Bore.
Her competitors are Euro MP and front runner Sion Simon, former city concillor Steve Bedser, Wolverhampton cabinet member Milikinder Jaspal and freelance bookseller Mary Simons-Jones.
All five candidates nominated themselves.
Voters in the West Midlands will go to the polls to elect the region’s first Metro Mayor next May.
A Labour spokesman said: “Shortlisting will take place before selected candidates go through to an election among party members.”
Mr Simon, the former Erdingtom MP is the highest-profile and favourite candidate, having previously developed substantial momentum for his campaign.
The other established parties have yet to announce their selection processes but John Lewis Managing Director, Andy Street has been spoken of as a potential Conservative candidate.
Former government trade minister, Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, has also proposed that he may stand as an independent.
