Former Mayor of Berkeley Shirley Dean has taken the first step toward making a bid for a third mayoral term, becoming the second Berkeley resident to announce his or her intention to run for the office.

Dean took out filing papers on Wednesday and confirmed that she plans to run in the fall election.

The former mayor previously served from 1994 to 2002, when she was defeated in her re-election bid by current Mayor Tom Bates.

Dean said she plans to run again because she is disappointed by the city's present administration.

"I think there is a real leadership vacuum in the city," she said. "There are problems coming up week after week and there seems to be no resolution."

The issues that Dean said she is interested in addressing should she be re-elected include renewing the Downtown area, which she says is "deteriorating," addressing transportation issues, dealing with real estate development and combating global warming.

Dean, who said during the 2002 campaign that she would like to see Berkeley become the solar power capital of the country, said she maintains that stance.

"There is no reason why every new development should not be required to go solar," Dean said.

During her two previous terms as mayor, Dean is credited with creating the city's arts district, expanding housing in Berkeley and lowering crime.

However, her moderate political stance was known to put her at odds with more progressive members of the Berkeley City Council.

Dean's former opponent Bates has not confirmed whether he will run for re-election in the fall. At present, Dean's sole opposition is from Berkeley activist Zachary RunningWolf.

RunningWolf, a leader of the tree-sit in the oak grove near Memorial Stadium, said he looks forward to running against the former mayor.

"I am not afraid of Shirley Dean," he said.

Rather than paying the $150 filing fee, Dean said she plans instead to collect 150 signatures in order to secure her bid as mayor. The upcoming election will be the first in which candidates for local office will be allowed to collect signatures in lieu of paying the filing fee.

Tags: ELECTIONS 2008, LOCAL ELECTIONS 2008, CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2008, SHIRLEY DEAN