Calling himself a voice for common sense, north Eugene Councilor Mike Clark has announced plans to seek a third term.

Clark has represented Ward 5 since 2007. The ward covers north-central Eugene, east of the Willamette River.

“The folks here in the north part of Eugene sometimes see the big issues of the day differently than in other parts of our community,” Clark said. “I like being an effective voice for them.”

Four City Council seats, including Ward 5, are up for consideration in the May 20 primary.

Clark, 50, the City Council’s lone Republican, was the last of the four incumbents to announce his candidacy.

So far, no one has announced plans to challenge Clark or Councilors George Poling, Alan Zelenka and Greg Evans.

The deadline to file as a candidate with the city recorder’s office is Wednesday.

City councilors are paid $14,527 a year.

City Council races are officially nonpartisan, meaning candidates don’t have to win a political party’s nomination to advance to the fall election. If candidates get more than 50 percent of the vote in the May primary, they would advance unopposed to the fall general election.

Clark often sides with Poling, a conservative Democrat, in opposing the liberal council majority.

“Although I am often in disagreement with the majority, this current council works better together than has been the case for many years,” Clark said.

“We get more done. I’m proud to be part of that more civil process.”

During his present term, Clark opposed the city’s plastic bag ban because it contained a mandatory nickel charge for paper bags.

“If anything, I see myself as trying to present the voice of common sense,” he said.

Clark is a self-employed advertising and marketing consultant.

If re-elected, he said job creation and making Eugene more business-friendly will be his priorities.

“We need more jobs, and I feel I can be effective at helping focus our energy in that direction,” Clark said.

The city can help businesses grow by providing land for them to build on, he said.

And the council should avoid burdensome business regulations, Clark said.

Last week, the council had its first discussion about requiring businesses within the city to provide paid sick leave to employees.

Clark opposes that.

Most “good businesses” already offer that to employees, he said. “That is different than (the council) forcing everyone to do it.”

Required paid sick leave could be a hardship for some businesses, he said. And a paid sick leave ordinance could force some employers to move to Springfield or other cities that don’t have the same requirement, Clark said.

“We can’t afford to chase away much more of our tax base,” he said.

In 2006, Clark ran unopposed in his first election to council. In 2010, he easily defeated Nadia Sindi in the May election.

Follow Ed on Twitter @edwardrusso. Email ed.russo@registerguard.com.