VENTURA : 2 Filings to Date for 4 Council Seats

With less than three weeks remaining until the deadline to file nomination papers for four open seats on the Ventura City Council, only two candidates have taken out the required forms, officials said Monday.

Nancy Cloutier, publisher of the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, was the first to submit candidacy papers to join the seven-member council, City Clerk Barbara Kam said. Neil Demers-Grey, a gay rights activist, also filed nomination papers last week, but was disqualified Monday because he lacked enough signatures from registered voters who live in the city, Kam said.

Demers-Grey fell four signatures short of the required 20, Kam said.

“He has picked up new papers to recirculate,” Kam said. Demers-Grey was not immediately available for comment.

The deadline for filing nomination papers for the November council election is Aug. 6. Candidates need only be registered Ventura voters and secure at least 20 but no more than 30 signatures of registered voters who live in the city.

Incumbent Councilman James Monahan and five other residents have taken out candidacy papers but have not yet returned them, Kam said.

The other five potential candidates are Charles Kistner, a political consultant; Clark Owens, a real estate broker; Brian Rencher, a Ventura College student; Ken Schmitz, a certified public accountant, and Carol Dean Williams, a local activist.

Councilmen Todd Collart and Gary Tuttle have also announced they are seeking reelection but have not yet taken out the necessary papers. Councilwoman Cathy Bean said she is retiring from politics.

“In some years we had them stacked at the door waiting. This year it’s kind of light, but it could pick up,” said Kam, who has been city clerk for 22 years. “I’ve had as many as 35 candidates, but I’m not hoping to get as many as 35 this time.”