ELECTIONS / VENTURA CITY COUNCIL : Publisher Joins Emerging Field of Candidates

Nancy Cloutier, owner of the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, announced her candidacy for Ventura City Council on Friday, unofficially opening the race for four seats that come up for grabs in November’s city elections.

Cloutier said she wants to join the council to become a unifying force for the business community and city residents.

“I want us to bring Ventura together. . . . Together we will weather this still devastating recession.”

Specifically, she advocates hiring more police to crack down on escalating gang-related violence, making more affordable housing available, and giving tax breaks for businesses to spur the city’s economic base.

Cloutier made her announcement on the steps of Ventura City Hall as a small group of friends and supporters looked on. Two of her potential rivals--businessman Dick Massa and accountant Ken Schmitz--were also in the audience.

Although the election is nine months away, a list of prospective council candidates is already emerging. Three of the four incumbents, Councilmen Todd Collart, Jim Monahan and Gary Tuttle, said they plan to seek reelection.

And real estate broker Clark Owens, a Ventura planning commissioner with strong ties to the business community, said he intends to seek a council seat.

At least two other candidates have hinted at joining the race but not publicly announced their candidacies. They are Nordhoff High School teacher Steve Bennett and Tim Downey, president of Ven Virotek, a recycling company.

Bennett and Downey are riding high after successfully managing the campaign to win voter support of a city-built desalination plant over laying a pipeline to connect the city to state water sources.

“It’s very early for people to be running,” said Carolyn Leavens, who helped put together a successful coalition of business interests that elected three councilmen in November, 1991. “Some of them are feeling that there are so many people who are considering running that they want to get in there and intimidate the other candidates out of the race.”

City Clerk Barbara Kam said Cloutier, Owens, Massa, Schmitz and Monahan have picked up papers that allow them to begin raising cash for their campaigns.

Cloutier has scheduled a fund-raising dinner in about two weeks. She described her weekly paper as primarily an arts and entertainment publication that distributes 30,000 copies free countywide. She said her paper will not take sides in the election.

“In no way will we utilize the Reporter for myself,” she said.

Massa, who owns Ventura Medical Supply, said he sent out letters to Chamber of Commerce members two weeks ago, seeking support and donations.

Schmitz, a certified public accountant, said he is “95% sure” that he will run, but he won’t begin vigorously campaigning until after tax season.

Councilman Tuttle said he began knocking on residents’ doors in late November to get a jump on the competition.

Councilwoman Cathy Bean said she hasn’t decided whether she will seek another term.

As the leaders of last fall’s campaign for a desalination plant, Bennett and Downey have the support of the environmental community, said Paul Tebbel, environmental affairs director of Patagonia Inc. The Ventura-based clothing manufacturer helped elect council members Collart, Tuttle and Bean on a slow-growth ticket in 1989.

Bennett said he hasn’t decided whether to join the race. Two years ago, he came in fifth as a write-in candidate for the City Council.

Although he has not announced his intentions to seek a council seat, Downey was widely viewed as a top contender capable of drawing broad support from business and environmental interests until he collapsed with heart problems last week. He is in good condition at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

Downey said he had not made up his mind.

“I may have an announcement in a few months,” he said.

Candidates may take out nomination papers beginning July 12 and must file candidacy papers by Aug. 6.

Council members are elected at large every two years for a four-year term. The top four vote-getters are elected into office, and a new mayor is then selected by the council.