Piper Named to Simi Council

The Simi Valley City Council, which had deadlocked over nominations for a vacant council seat, compromised Monday night and appointed Michael Piper, a city planning commissioner.

On a vote of 3 to 1, the council selected Piper, an 11-year veteran of the commission, to fill the seat vacated by Councilman Glen McAdoo on Nov. 12.

Councilwoman Sandi Webb, who favored a special election, was the dissenting vote.

The council chose Piper after it was unable to come to a consensus on four other candidates discussed Monday night.

Among those considered were: Robert Huber, a Simi Valley attorney and former councilman; Jack Spots, a former planning commissioner; attorney John Williamson, and Bonnie Carpenter, board member of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. Also discussed earlier was James Dantona, a member of the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

Piper, a Republican, said he had told Councilwoman Judy Mikels early Monday that he was interested in being nominated for the position and had the experience to sit on the council.

However, Piper, who watched the council meeting at home on cable television with his wife, Victoria, said he did not expect the council to select him.

“My wife and I were rather surprised, because it was sounding like the council would call for a special election,” he said.

Piper, who will be sworn in at Monday’s council meeting, said he has not decided whether he will run for the seat in the November election.

Dantona and Huber said after the meeting that they were pleased with the selection of Piper but they intend to run for the seat.

Two weeks ago, Dantona kicked off his campaign with a $250-a-plate fund-raiser at the Marina del Rey Yacht Club.

Ever since McAdoo resigned because of a job transfer, the council had been at odds over how to fill his seat.

Councilman Bill Davis, a former Democrat who recently turned Republican, and Webb, a Libertarian, earlier said that they would back Dantona, a Democrat.

Mayor Greg Stratton and Mikels, both Republicans, said they supported Huber, also a Republican.

Faced with a stalemate, Davis and Webb suggested that the panel call a special election in April. But Stratton and Mikels argued that the council would gain a fifth member more quickly and at less expense if the panel made an appointment.

They said a special election would cost the city about $57,000, and a newly elected council member would be eligible to serve only until next November, when McAdoo’s term expires.