ELECTIONS SUPERVISORS : 2 Simi Valley Officials Try to Emphasize Differences

With only a few days left before the Nov. 6 election, Ventura County supervisorial candidates Bill Davis and Vicky Howard are trying to convince voters that there are differences between them.

Howard, 55, cites her long government experience as the major factor that sets her apart from her opponent. In addition to serving eight years on the Simi Valley City Council, Howard has served four years on the Ventura County Transportation Commission and two years on the Local Agency Formation Commission.

“I’ve had more experience at the county level than Bill has,” Howard said. “If I were filling out an application for a job . . . I would deserve every consideration.”

Davis, a Simi Valley city councilman since 1986, said his accomplishments on the governing panel are a testament to his ability to manage problems. Davis said he played a key role in establishing a rent subsidy program for low-income seniors and co-authored a voter-approved ballot measure that encouraged more development of affordable housing for the elderly.

Davis, 62, said he uses the “bulldog approach” to problem solving.

“I don’t take no for an answer,” he said. “Bill Davis looks at the problem, he finds the solution and keeps working at it until it happens.”

Davis said Howard’s experience on LAFCO and the Transportation Commission doesn’t give her an edge in the race to represent the 4th District, which includes Simi Valley, Moorpark, Somis and the Santa Clara Valley.

“You can sit on 50 committees and not accomplish anything,” he said.

But Howard said she has a “solid list of accomplishments.”

As a member of the Transportation Commission, she said she played a key role in getting extra climbing lanes built on both sides of the Simi Valley Freeway through the Santa Susana Pass.

“That’s something that benefits thousands of people every day,” Howard said.

Howard said she co-authored the city’s 1986 voter-approved slow-growth ordinance and was instrumental in laying the foundation for commuter rail service between Simi Valley and Los Angeles, which is expected to begin in 1992.

Others agree that there are fundamental differences between the two candidates.

Simi Valley City Councilman Glen McAdoo, who is backing Davis, said Howard is not aggressive enough and waits for others to reach decisions before she takes a position.

“Vicky is not decisive,” McAdoo said. “She has to test the political waters before making a decision. She waffles and flip-flops. Bill goes straight at things. He’s very decisive.”

Mayor Greg Stratton, who has endorsed Howard, said she is more conservative than Davis and therefore better able to deal with the county’s budget problems.

“Vicky has the philosophy and the experience to deal with those kinds of issues,” Stratton said, adding that Howard was on the council in the early 1980s when the city was experiencing financial problems. “I like both of them, but I don’t think Bill has the experience in government.”

Howard stressed her conservative values at a recent question-and-answer forum with Davis. Although both said they would have opposed a recent 5% salary increase that the County Board of Supervisors voted themselves, Howard criticized Davis for voting for council raises two years ago.

“He always wanted raises for the City Council,” Howard said later. “You don’t serve on the City Council because you’re looking for money.”

Davis said the council was in “excellent financial condition at the time. It was a totally different thing.”

Davis added that Howard had recently supported a 5% pay increase for the city’s 246 clerical and maintenance workers. Under the agreement, workers, whose pay raise will become effective next July, will receive another 5% raise during the second year of the contract.

“I have approved some pay raises,” Howard said. “But not all of them as he has done.”

Davis said if he is elected supervisor he would donate his 5% salary increase to charity.

For the most part, the candidates agree on the issues. Both favor a ballot measure that would increase the county sales tax to help pay for local road improvements. Both oppose the proposed merger of Southern California Edison and San Diego Electric Co.

And both favor a proposal for Simi Valley to annex property owned by entertainer Bob Hope.

With little difference on the issues, the candidates have focused much of their attention and energy on each other, resulting in a bitter campaign.

Davis, a Democrat, and Howard, a Republican, have attacked each other for misleading voters by distributing or allowing distribution of campaign mailers that are specifically addressed to voters whose party affiliations are different than their own. The mailers do not mention what party the candidates belong to. Both deny any wrongdoing.

More recently, Howard has criticized Davis for refusing to authorize release of his service record as a Culver City police officer more than 40 years ago.

Howard said she raised the issue because Davis has referred to his law enforcement experience in his ballot statement and in his campaign literature.

Davis has said he has no intention of authorizing the release of his police record “because there are things in there I don’t think are anybody’s business.”

He said he served as a Culver City police officer for seven months more than 40 years ago. He said he decided to resign after witnessing the death of a young boy hit by a car.

Davis said he is upset because Howard, who is his next-door neighbor, already knew why he left the police force.

Howard has denied knowing the reason why Davis quit.

Both said they are disappointed at the negative tone of the campaign and will be relieved when the campaign is over.

“Win, lose or draw, it’s going to be Christmas on Nov. 6,” Davis said.