COUNTYWIDE : 2 Judges Seeking Superior Court Seat

Two Ventura County Municipal Court judges from the same political party are running for an open seat on the Superior Court.

Municipal Judge Ken W. Riley filed notice last week of his intention to seek the Superior Court seat being vacated by Judge Bruce A. Thompson. Municipal Judge John J. Hunter announced several weeks ago that he would also run for Thompson’s seat. The office is nonpartisan.

Hunter, 55, and Riley, 47, are Republicans who were named to their seats by GOP governors--Hunter in 1970 by Gov. Ronald Reagan and Riley in 1988 by Gov. George Deukmejian. Both are former deputy district attorneys.

“I think it’s unfortunate that two Republicans are running against each other,” said Gwen Tillemans of Oxnard, a former county Republican chairman who was an adviser to Deukmejian on judicial appointments. She added, however, that she has not talked to the candidates.

“I don’t know what their motivation is,” she said. “But I’ll find out.”

Hunter was out of the office Monday and could not be reached for comment. Riley said he does not relish the thought of a political campaign, “especially against someone that I know.”

However, he said, “this is something I’ve wanted to do since law school--sit on the Superior Court.” He said he decided to run after a broad spectrum of lawyers from both political parties expressed their support. “I anticipate it to be a very hard campaign, difficult for everyone involved,” Riley said.

Vincent J. O’Neill Jr., the chief deputy district attorney, has taken out petition forms for the Superior Court seat but has not declared a formal intention to run. The deadline to declare is Monday.