ISLAMORADA -- Add Mayor Don Achenberg to the list of people who have officially filed to run in the Village Council elections next March.

"I still feel obligated to stand by my promise to make every effort to provide reliable and affordable wastewater to Islamorada and I can't leave it half done," he said in an interview last week.

Achenberg announced he would defend his Seat 2 on the council last June after hotelier Paul Bates filed to run for the spot. The mayor formalized that announcement by submitting official paperwork to the village clerk's office on Nov. 6.

Achenberg was appointed to the council in late 2006 following the resignation of Patty Schmidt.

His campaign against Bates will be a rematch of the 2008 election, which Achenberg won by a margin of 57 percent to 40 percent.

In September Achenberg voted for the village's $21.8 million sewer assessment. He long opposed pumping village sewage to Key Largo but has recently changed his position on the issue in response to public outcries against proposed sewer plant locations.

"I think it's a quality of life issue in Islamorada," Achenberg said.

Bates said he'll run a hard campaign against the mayor.

"I plan on bringing up the issues and staying away from campaign slogans," he said.

Others who have officially filed to run for one of the five Village Council seats next March are Councilwoman Jill Zima Borski, Dave Purdo, Rod Halenza, Councilwoman Deb Gillis and Bob Johnson.