Schillo Says He Plans to Run for State Senate Seat : Politics: The Thousand Oaks councilman would face Assemblywoman Cathie Wright in the 19th District’s GOP primary.

Thousand Oaks Councilman Frank Schillo on Monday said he plans to run for the state Senate this year, unless disgruntled city residents force him to defend himself against a recall initiative that might qualify for the June 2 ballot.

The Republican councilman said he filed his tentative candidacy papers before the deadline on Monday so he could preserve his options to run in the 19th Senate District, which extends from Oxnard to the San Fernando Valley.

If he decides to run, Schillo would face tough competition in the GOP primary from Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) and former Assemblywoman Marian La Follette, who now lives in Thousand Oaks.

Schillo said he will not decide his course until the end of next week, when Ventura County elections officials determine whether those who want to oust him from the council have collected enough qualified signatures to place the recall initiative on the ballot.

“I’m not going to run away from a fight,” said Schillo, 58, an eight-year councilman. “If they collect enough signatures, I will defend myself against the recall. If they don’t have the signatures, there is a good likelihood I will run for the Senate.”

Schillo and longtime Councilman Alex Fiore have been under attack for their unwavering support for the $63.8-million civic arts center to be built on the former site of the Jungleland wild animal park.

The new city hall and performing arts auditorium is the costliest and most controversial public project in the city’s 27-year history.

After years of failing to halt the project, Jungleland opponents have focused their aim on its chief supporters.

Last month, the 1000 Oaks Recall Committee submitted 11,096 signatures supporting the recall initiative, 2,722 more than needed to reach ballot status, said City Clerk Nancy Dillon.

County elections officials have until Feb. 28 to verify the signatures on the recall petitions and those of 546 people who have sent letters and postcards asking that their names be removed from the petitions.

If Schillo runs and loses in the Republican primary for the Senate, he would still have an opportunity to run for reelection in the City Council election in November.

He said the filing deadline for reelection is not until July 6, well after the June 2 primary.

Yet Schillo said it is premature to speculate on his future options.

“If I should lose in the state Senate race, I would decide what I would do after that,” he said.

Schillo is not the only Republican councilman interested in running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Ed Davis (R-Santa Clarita).

Fillmore Councilman Roger Campbell is also mounting a campaign.

The winner of the GOP primary would have a tremendous advantage in winning the seat in the November election because the district has roughly 28,000 more registered Republican voters than Democrats.

Paul Dolan, an Oxnard resident and advertising business owner, is the lone Democrat to file his intention to run in the Senate district.