5 Candidates to Vie for Ventura Supervisor Post

John H. Byrd, a Thousand Oaks contractor and developer, became the fifth candidate to enter the race for the 2nd District Ventura County supervisor’s seat held by Edwin A. Jones as the filing deadline passed Friday.

Byrd, 41, joined Jones, Thousand Oaks City Councilwoman Madge Schaefer, businessman Nathaniel (Bud) Glickman and senior citizens activist Tony Lamb in the campaign for the June 3 primary.

Byrd, who has fought with officials over the grading of his property in Newbury Park, said he would stress the rights of property owners in county zoning and development decisions.

Most of the 2nd District is in Thousand Oaks, but it also includes south Camarillo and south Oxnard.

In the race for 4th District supervisor, board Chairman James Dougherty has one challenger, Mark Meininger of Simi Valley. The 4th District covers Simi Valley, Moorpark, Somis, the Santa Rosa Valley and part of northern Thousand Oaks.

Runoffs in November

In the nonpartisan board of supervisor races, runoffs will be held in November if no candidate wins more than 50% of the primary vote.

Filing also closed Friday for the 36th Assembly District seat held by Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), who announced last week that he would run for reelection and drop his bid for the 21st Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Northridge.)

Two previously declared Republican candidates, former Ventura City Councilwoman Patricia Longo and McClintock’s chief of staff, Marlee Means, quit the race last week to avoid running against McClintock. Camarillo Mayor Sandi Bush, who had been expected to run, also did not file.

Observers say McClintock has a lock on the conservative, affluent district, which stretches from Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Camarillo to cities along Ventura County’s coast.

The only Republican remaining in the race is Paul J. Hamel, a former New Hampshire state legislator who recently moved to Ventura. Two Democrats from Thousand Oaks, Paul Golis and Frank Nekimken, will vie for their party’s endorsement in the June primary.

Golis, 67, a retired lawyer, and Nekimken, 71, a retired sales manager, said they would emphasize the need for housing that low- and moderate-income families can afford.

A Libertarian candidate, H. Bruce Driscoll of Thousand Oaks, also filed election papers for the 36th Assembly District seat.