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Planning commissioner hopes to join council that criticized him By JESSICA SMITH A Medford planning commissioner says he wants a place on the City Council, the group that threatened to boot him out of office earlier this spring. Dennis Nielsen, admonished by the council in April for alleged misconduct, is the first to signal his interest in one of four council seats open in the November election. Nielsen said he has no qualms about joining a group that labeled him "obstructive, argumentative and disruptive." "I don�t need a bunch of warm fuzzies from the rest of the council," he said. He added that he would continue to defend "individual property owners over developers" if elected to the city�s "ultimate decision-making body." Nielsen has taken out papers to file for Ward 4 and likely will face Councilman Bill Moore. Moore has yet to file for re-election. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor two years ago, but said a council re-election bid is "probable." Meanwhile, Mayor Lindsay Berryman said she�s ready to spend four more years in the city�s highest office. By Friday, the second day candidates could file, Berryman was the sole applicant to take out papers for the mayor�s seat. Should Berryman be re-elected, she would be the first mayor in the city�s history to serve a four-year term. In the 1998 election, when Berryman was first elected, voters approved a city charter amendment lengthening the mayor�s term in office from two years to four. In addition to Berryman�s and Moore�s positions, the terms of three other council members also expire this year. Councilman John Michaels, who represents Ward 3, said he plans to make another bid for office. Michaels, a graphic artist, was elected in 1998 to fill a vacancy created by Lee Ferguson�s resignation in 1997. Curt Bennett, a stockbroker who represents Ward 1, said he is unsure whether he will run for a second term. He was first elected in 1996. Council President Sal Esquivel, Ward 2, could not be reached for comment on his plans. Mayoral and council candidates have until 5 p.m. Aug. 25 to file for the election. Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in Medford for at least six months. Council candidates also must be a resident of the ward they want to represent. To file for office, candidates must gather at least 25 signatures on a nominating petition. For an application or more information, stop by the city recorder�s office at Room 320, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., or call 774-2017. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA