AGOURA HILLS : 6 Candidates to Run for 3 Council Seats

Five newcomers and one incumbent are running for three Agoura Hills City Council seats, according to papers filed with the city clerk before the Wednesday deadline.

Candidates for the Nov. 2 election include Councilwoman Fran Pavley, banking executive Steve Soelberg, Gary’s Auto Parts owner Paul (Gary) Mueller, First Interstate Bank branch manager Denis Weber, Los Angeles Police Officer Lyle Michelson and Copy-Rite Printing owner Ed Corridori.

Lumber City owner Jess Ruf had filed a nominating petition, but withdrew his candidacy hours before the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday, City Clerk Pat Manning said.

Mayor Ed Kurtz and Councilwoman Darlene McBane declined to run for reelection so, by state law, the filing deadline was extended from Friday to Wednesday to give potential challengers extra time to file.

A key issue in the race for three of the five seats on the council will probably be pole-top advertising signs, which have been a source of controversy for years. Two competing ballot measures would limit the height of signs to 35 feet, or encourage business owners to cluster their signs.

“I think the signs are going to be the hot issue during the campaign,” McBane said. “I suppose another big item will be the development of the last parcels of land in the city, and how the council will guide that process.”