MOORPARK : Busing Opponent to Run for Mayor

One of the founders of a group that has protested the Moorpark Unified School District’s busing program has pulled nomination papers to run for mayor in the November general election.

Helen Taylor, 33, who helped organize the group Parents for Better Schools, has picked up nomination papers and said this week that she plans to file before Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

Parents for Better Schools lobbied the Moorpark school district during the past school year to reduce its busing program for younger students by changing elementary schools to neighborhood schools. School officials agreed to review the issue during the coming school year.

Taylor, a mother of three who also works as a nurse at Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, acknowledged during an interview Sunday that the mayoral race has no relation to her activism in school affairs.

But she said her interest in civic affairs was heightened by her experience in leading Parents for Better Schools.

“It’s exhilarating to get out there and try to make change,” Taylor said.

Taylor said she decided to challenge incumbent Mayor Paul W. Lawrason Jr. because he and the rest of the City Council are unresponsive to local businesses and residents. As mayor, Taylor said, she would work to streamline the process for issuing building permits to residents and businesses.

In addition to Taylor, rancher Pete Peters and Lawrason have also pulled nomination papers for the mayoral race.