Law Agencies Back Howard in Election

Ventura County’s top law enforcement officials Friday endorsed Simi Valley City Councilwoman Vicky Howard for the 4th District county supervisor’s seat.

Sheriff John V. Gillespie, Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury and Deputy Sheriffs Assn. President Gary E. White announced their support for Howard at a news conference held outside the Sheriff’s Academy in Camarillo. Gillespie, who was unable to attend, issued a letter announcing his endorsement.

“Vicky Howard has been a consistently strong supporter of law enforcement in this county for many years,” Gillespie wrote. “She is committed to helping, in a major way, in our war on drugs and gang violence and can be counted upon to continue to push for tough penalties for violent offenders.”

Bradbury said that he has known Howard for several years and that she has a reputation for providing strong support to the Simi Valley Police Department.

“I’ve spoken with the chief there, and he is very gratified with the support he has received,” Bradbury said.

Howard said she has actively supported the Police Department in salary negotiations with the city, in funding for anti-drug education programs in the schools and in several areas of drug enforcement, including the recent purchase of a narcotics-sniffing dog.

White said his group, which represents about 600 law enforcement officials, interviewed the five candidates in the race before endorsing Howard.

“She is sensitive to the special problems of law enforcement--the dangers of the job, the difficulty in recruiting, the need for adequate jail facilities,” White said. “She believes in appropriate compensation for police officers and has indicated to us that she intends to make law enforcement in Ventura County a top priority.”

Howard said she was grateful for the support.

“I’m extremely pleased,” Howard said. “I think one of the most important things to the people in our community is keeping the low crime rate, such as we have now, and these are the people who do the job. I’ve always supported them, and I’m really pleased now they’re supporting me.”

In a prepared statement she read at the conference, Howard outlined some of her priorities in the area of law enforcement.

She said she would work to prevent plea bargaining with drunk drivers and for aggressive collection of child-support payments from parents who neglect their obligations.

But her main focus, Howard said, would be to ensure that adequate funding is available to combat the spread of drug trafficking and the gang violence that is often associated with it.

“I will not allow the plague that has turned Los Angeles County into a battle zone to spread to this county,” she said.

Howard is one of five candidates in the supervisorial race to represent the 4th District, which includes Simi Valley, Moorpark, Somis and the Santa Clara Valley. The other candidates are Bill Davis, also a Simi Valley council member; Glen Schmidt, a Moorpark planning commissioner; Harold Fick, a Simi Valley businessman; and Tom Ely, a Ventura County Community College District trustee.