CAMARILLO : Benefit to Feature Bennett, Koch

William J. Bennett, former secretary of education, and Edward I. Koch, former mayor of New York City, will be the featured speakers Oct. 16 at a benefit for Casa Pacifica, a center for abused children to be built in Camarillo.

The benefit, sponsored by Ventura County National Bank, is the seventh annual “Evening With . . .” event put on by the bank. It will be held at the Oxnard Civic Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Bennett, a Republican, and Koch, a Democrat, will discuss and debate election-year issues such as the economy, family values, drug abuse, education and race relations. William E. McAleer, Ventura National Bank’s chairman and chief executive officer, will moderate the event.

Tickets, at $25, $30, $40 and $50, are available by calling Annette Close at 981-2749. Tickets include a buffet reception following the speakers in the Oxnard Room.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Casa Pacifica, which is building a home-like facility in Camarillo to temporarily house 60 children and 25 toddlers who have been the victims of child abuse or neglect. Construction begins this month and is expected to finish by the summer of 1993.

Casa Pacifica’s goal is to raise $10 million to fund construction and endow the facility. County government officials have committed $4.25 million to the project, and the organization has received $3.6 million in donations.