Springfield councilor gets some competition.

Byline: Jack Moran The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Unlike in 2002, when all three City Council races were one-candidate affairs, voters next year will get the chance to pick between rivals in at least one race.

Ward 5 incumbent John Woodrow, the council's current president, and former councilor Fred Simmons have both filed statements of candidacy with Springfield city officials.

Both need to obtain 25 verified signatures from Ward 5 residents before their names can appear on the ballot in next May's primary election.

Simmons, 63, is a Springfield native and retired Lane Transit District bus driver who previously served a four-year term on the City Council in the mid-1980s and again from 1998 through 2002. His decision not to seek re-election in 2002 allowed Woodrow to win the Ward 5 seat without opposition.

Since he retired, Simmons has served on several of Springfield's citizen committees and earlier this year led a successful ballot effort to overturn a citywide utility tax earmarked by the council for funding the operation of a municipal jail.

Simmons said he is the candidate most in touch with the everyday Springfield citizen.

"John (Woodrow) is a fundamental representative of the development and business community," Simmons said. "I come from a basis of representing the residents - the citizens and the voters."

Woodrow, 55, said he respects Simmons for his previous service on the council but disagrees with the notion that he does not represent the average city resident.

"I understand being a common man, coming from a common background myself," Woodrow said. "I represent all of the citizens of Springfield, and want to help Springfield continue to prosper in a way that helps all citizens."

Woodrow voted to institute the utility tax.

Woodrow grew up in Wisconsin and Southern California and moved to Springfield nearly nine years ago. In addition to his volunteer duties with the City Council, he works full time as chief financial officer of Coracle Inc., an Internet advertising company based in Springfield.

Both Woodrow and Simmons say they intend to sign each other's petition. Ward 5 covers east Springfield from 42nd Street to Highway 126.

So far, nobody has filed papers with the city indicating interest in City Council positions representing wards 1 and 2, which are also up for grabs in 2006. The Ward 1 seat is currently held by Christine Lundberg, while Tammy Fitch has been the Ward 2 councilor since 1998.

The deadline to file for candidacy is March 7. Winners of the election will begin four-year terms in January 2007.