Former Columbus City Council Member Mike Mentel has filed the paperwork to run for the Franklin County Commission seat held by fellow Democrat Paula Brooks. Mentel says he was encourage to run in the primary next year, but is not saying who did so. Brooks and Mayor Michael Coleman's ally, fellow Commissioner John O'Grady, have been at odds in recent years. Court records and law enforcement sources have linked Mentel to the red-light camera bribery scandal, but he says he did nothing wrong. City Hall lobbyist John Raphael pleaded guilty earlier this year to extorting money from red-light camera company Redflex and funneling it to the campaigns of Columbus politicians when Mentel was council president.