Taking Aerospace Job in Australia : Laxdal to Quit Thousand Oaks City Council

Thousand Oaks City Councilman Lee Laxdal announced Tuesday that he will resign Aug. 1 because he is moving to Australia.

The announcement at the council’s meeting confirmed rumors that have been circulating through the city for two weeks. Last week, Laxdal denied that he was leaving the council soon.

On Tuesday, Laxdal said he applied two months ago to his employer, the Aerospace Corp. of El Segundo, for a transfer because his present engineering job involves traveling about three weeks out of the month. One of the positions he applied for is in Australia. Laxdal said he recently learned that he had been chosen for the job, which involves aerospace work in the desert community of Woomera in southern Australia.

“There’s a sadness and sense of loss that goes with leaving the council,” said Laxdal, 55, who has been a member since 1980. “But at the same time, there’s a sense of adventure and incredible possibilities.”

Special Election

The remaining four council members have the option of appointing a successor or holding a special election to fill the vacancy. Laxdal, author of the city’s growth-control law, was reelected to the council in November.

“I don’t think we will want to appoint anyone to serve for the next three years,” Councilman Frank Schillo said in an interview, indicating that the council is likely to decide after Laxdal leaves to have voters fill the vacancy.

Ruth Schepler, Ventura County assistant registrar of voters, said that holding a special election in April will cost Thousand Oaks more than $57,000. The election cannot be held Nov. 7 when school board members are elected because the deadline for cities to call an election for that date is July 5 and there would not be enough time.