ELECTIONS : 14 Hopefuls Crowd Ventura City Council Race : Campaign: All candidates are focusing on recession issues and that’s making it hard for some to earn voter recognition.

Nancy Cloutier is handing out flower seeds. Clark Owens is distributing candy bars. And Rosa Lee Measures is passing out poppy posters.

With little more than two weeks remaining until election day, they and eight other challengers in the Ventura City Council race are still struggling to make their names known to voters.

And they are using their imaginations in coming up with gimmicks in search of the kind of name recognition usually associated with incumbents.

Four seats on the council are open this year, and with three incumbents facing 11 contenders, the battle for votes is fierce.

About 19,000 Ventura residents--37% of those registered--have voted in each of the past two council races. The vote spread for winning candidates in those races has ranged from about 11,000 to just under 6,000.

But this year, the task of piling up that many votes is complicated by the fact that many of the challengers are campaigning primarily on similar issues--all revolving around the recession.

Because most candidates are running on the issues of business recruitment and economic revitalization, the challengers--most of them political unknowns--say they are having a hard time separating themselves from the pack.

“It’s difficult--a lot of us are running on the same platform,” said Owens, a 57-year-old real estate broker. “People were very receptive to the candy bars.”

Cloutier, 61, is publisher of the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, a weekly entertainment newspaper. Measures, 56, is a former banker and manages her family’s trust fund investments.

Other challengers in the race include Steve Bennett, 42, a Nordhoff High School teacher; Neil Demers-Grey, 28, a secretary; Charles Kistner, 33, owner of a job testing firm, and Dick Massa, 53, owner of Ventura Medical Supply.

Also running are Brian Lee Rencher, 33, a Ventura College student; Ken Schmitz, 36, a certified public accountant; Virginia Weber, 44, an educational grants administrator, and Carroll Dean Williams, 51, a manufacturing engineer.

The challengers are up against three incumbents, Councilmen Todd Collart, Gary Tuttle and Jim Monahan. There is also one open seat because of Councilwoman Cathy Bean’s decision not to run again, so the top four vote-getters will be elected for four-year terms.

The three incumbents said that although they may enjoy more name recognition, they also come under attack because people criticize their voting records.

“If nobody’s ever heard of you, they’re probably not going to vote for you,” said Tuttle, who is running for a second term. “On the other hand, I’m not sure being an incumbent is an advantage. It’s easy to blame someone for droughts and recessions.”

Collart said all the candidates sound the same this year because the recession has overshadowed the growth issues that traditionally dominate city elections.

Nearly all the candidates and incumbents have come out in favor of the proposed Buenaventura Mall expansion, revitalizing the downtown area and boosting tourism. Some want to hire an economic development director to recruit businesses to Ventura.

“Who won’t be in favor of a good economy?” Collart said. “It’s like mother and apple pie stuff. It’s hard for anyone to distinguish themselves over an issue on which everyone agrees--that the economy needs to improve.”

Even Monahan, who has been elected to office four times before, is using some gimmicks to get people to remember him. He is handing out green potholders with shamrocks on them when he goes precinct walking.

The field this year is no more crowded than usual, but local politicians and activists say many strong candidates have come forward this time, making the election a close race.

“We have an unusual number of good, qualified candidates running,” said Councilman Tom Buford, who said he didn’t know why so many emerged this year.

Bennett, who has pledged not to accept any campaign contributions over $100, stands out as the only challenger from the environmental community. He ran a strong write-in campaign in the 1991 council race, finishing fifth with 5,315 votes.

He has some name recognition because he helped lead a successful campaign last November for a desalination plant. In an advisory measure, residents voted 55% to 45% to build a desalination plant instead of a pipeline to the State Water project.

Bennett is using the desalination plant as one of his campaign issues because he says many council members and candidates who prefer a pipeline want to renege on what residents voted for.

He has received endorsements from mobile home owners, the police and fire unions, environmental interest groups and Patagonia, the clothing company that helped elect three slow-growth candidates to the council in 1989.

Bennett said he is trying to reach voters through mailings and precinct walking. Although he handed out flower seeds when he campaigned in 1991, Bennett said he didn’t do that because he couldn’t afford to this year.

One policy that has helped him stand out from other candidates this year is a pledge not to accept contributions of more than $100, Bennett said.

“People remember me for that,” said Bennett, who loaned his campaign $4,885. If elected, he wants to pass a law limiting campaign contributions in council elections.

Cloutier, who is distributing “Forget Me Not” flower seeds on her precinct walks, is also being supported by Patagonia. But she has many ties to the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and unlike Bennett, is not running primarily as an environmental candidate.

Cloutier’s 15-year-old weekly entertainment newspaper gives her some name recognition, but she said the flower seeds make her stand out among the candidates.

“The voters are inundated with so much literature,” Cloutier said. “If you give them a little something, hopefully they’ll remember you.”

Cloutier has received endorsements from the mobile home owners and the construction unions.

Like Cloutier, Measures is also turning to campaign mementos to distinguish herself from the pack.

She is giving local merchants a colorful poster of red poppies with her name on it so they can display it in their store windows. She is also distributing it at fund-raisers.

Another tactic is printing an oversized brochure with large print, Measures said.

“They can’t miss it,” Measures said. “It stands out in the mail.”

Measures, a banker for 22 years with Imperial Savings Bank, agreed that most candidates are running on similar platforms this year because of the recession.

“We all sound a lot alike,” Measures said, “but I have the experience to back it up.” In her campaign, she is emphasizing her banking background.

Measures has received endorsements from the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, the police and fire unions and mobile home owners. She has received contributions from real estate brokers, including $500 from Don Carlton, a local realtor, and $200 from T.E. Hoctor and Co., also based in Ventura.

Owens, who has been a realtor in Ventura for 26 years, also has the backing of the real estate community. Owens has received many contributions from local real estate companies and developers.

From January to Sept. 18, he raised $15,651, more than any other candidate at the time. He received $495 from Ron Hertel, a developer who wants to swap land with the city so he can build homes on a city-owned parcel that is zoned for future park use.

At public forums and on some precinct walks, Owens hands out “Clark” bars, a candy bar that bears his first name. He acknowledged that it is one useful device to get people to remember him in a “me too” campaign.

“I’m doing it because it’s fun,” said Owens, who is also using traditional campaign tactics like mailings, signs and fund-raisers.

Owens has the backing of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, which helped elect three pro-business candidates to the council in 1991. He has also received endorsements from the police, fire and construction unions.

Schmitz, who is running on a chamber-endorsed slate with Owens, said a large number of contenders have come from the business community this year. As a result, he worries the race may go to the environmental candidates.

“We are going to split the vote up,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz said he is not resorting to gimmicks to get his name out, but acknowledges that separating himself from the others has not been an easy task.

“You got to differentiate yourself from the crowd,” Schmitz said. “Otherwise people don’t know me. I’m just another white male.”

Schmitz is relying on conventional campaign tactics such as precinct walking, mailings and signs. At the beginning of the campaign, he held outdoor lunches every week in front of City Hall to attract voters, but he has started holding them every two weeks instead because few residents came. At last week’s luncheon, only one person came.

“I’m attracting more bees than anything,” Schmitz said.

He said he is counting on the chamber to buy advertisements to support him and build his name recognition.

Virginia Weber’s last name has a lot of recognition in the community--something she hopes to take advantage of during her campaign, she said.

Weber is the daughter-in-law of Jack Weber, who has had a Lincoln-Mercury car dealership in Ventura since 1965. She has posted huge campaign signs outside the dealership on Thompson Boulevard, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city. The dealership is also her campaign headquarters.

“Name recognition is crucial,” said Weber, who used to do radio ads for her father-in-law.

Although Weber has received no endorsements so far, from January to Sept. 18, she was one of the top fund-raising candidates in the race. During that time, she amassed $10,171, coming in third behind Owens and Councilman Monahan.

Jack Weber donated $1,000 to her campaign, and she loaned $1,090 of her own money to the race. The former Ventura County grand jury member also received many contributions from housewives and doctors in the community.

Massa, who ran unsuccessfully against Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacey in 1992, said he hopes some “residual name recognition” from that race will help him in his quest for a council seat.

“I think that race gave me credibility,” Massa said.

Massa, an outspoken council critic, has received no endorsements so far and has raised about $6,053, said Jean Crew, his campaign treasurer.

Kistner, who has volunteered for Robert Lagomarsino, Elton Gallegly and Andres Herrera’s campaigns, is running for office for the first time. He has received no endorsements so far and said he has raised about $4,500.

Rencher and Williams have both run unsuccessfully for the council in 1991. Rencher received 282 votes and Williams received 557 votes.

Candidates for Ventura City Council

* STEVE BENNETT

Age: 42

Occupation: Nordhoff High School teacher.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, Brown University; master’s degree in education, Butler University.

Background: In the 1991 City Council race, Bennett ran as a write-in candidate and finished fifth with 5,315 votes. In November, he helped lead a successful campaign persuading voters to favor a desalination plant over a pipeline to the State Water Project in a citywide ballot measure. He is not accepting campaign contributions of more than $100.

Issues: Bennett wants the council to make a firm commitment to building the desalination plant. He supports starting a marketing program to encourage residents to buy local goods and services, and wants to expand recycling programs.

* DICK MASSA

Age: 53

Occupation: Owner of Ventura Medical Supply Inc.

Education: Two years of electrical engineering at the University of Dayton, Ohio.

Background: Massa ran unsuccessfully against Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacey in 1992, garnering 6,610 votes. Member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and Ventura Elks Lodge.

Issues: Massa wants to reduce traffic mitigation and signage fees for businesses, and increase funding for youth programs and tourism marketing. He wants to establish an artists fair on the Ventura Pier to attract more tourists, and says the city should aggressively recruit the Southwest Museum.

* KEN SCHMITZ

Age: 36

Occupation: Certified public accountant.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal State Northridge.

Background: Schmitz is a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, the Ventura Jaycees, Ventura Rotary Club South and Ventura County Economic Development Assn.

Issues: Schmitz said he wants to halve the downtown office vacancy rate within four years. He wants to implement a curbside pickup for tree clippings and other yard waste. He favors increasing the police force by 15%, and wants the city to promote tourism and downtown revitalization. He supports the proposed expansion of the Buenaventura Mall.

* NANCY CLOUTIER

Age: 61

Occupation: Owner and publisher of the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, a weekly entertainment newspaper.

Education: Three years at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

Background: Cloutier serves on several boards of local civic groups, including the Ventura Boys & Girls Club, the Ventura Fine Arts Community Curriculum Commission and Friends of the Channel Islands National Park. She is a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.

Issues: Cloutier wants to hire more police officers and supports forming a task force to help prevent crime. She wants to increase the city’s affordable housing and favors giving tax breaks to businesses. She supports making the Ventura River bottom a wetlands preserve.

* ROSA LEE MEASURES

Age: 56

Occupation: Manager of her family’s trust investments.

Education: Attended Woodbury Business College and Ventura College. She is a certified instructor for the Institute of Financial Education, which is an educational institute for the savings and loan industry.

Background: Measures is a former vice president at Imperial Savings Bank. She is a former president of United Way of Ventura County and a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.

Issues: Measures wants to hire a professional business recruiter to attract companies to Ventura. She favors hiring a permit-route specialist for companies trying to get permits from the city. She wants to invest in the Avenue neighborhood and favors affordable housing for senior citizens. She supports the proposed Buenaventura Mall expansion.

* GARY TUTTLE

Age: 45

Occupation: Incumbent councilman, owner of an athletic shoe store.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cal State Humboldt. California teaching credential from Humboldt, and Texas teaching credential from Trinity University in San Antonio.

Background: Tuttle is a former world-class runner who was first elected in 1989 on a slow-growth slate. As a council member, he opposed a proposed state university at Taylor Ranch. He has increased funding for social agencies and helped raise money to keep the Ventura Avenue Library open.

Issues: Tuttle supports a long-term greenbelt between Ventura and Oxnard, and wants the city to build a desalination plant. He supports redeveloping the downtown area and wants city officials to take steps to increase tourism. He also favors encouraging investment in the Ventura Avenue neighborhood.

* TODD COLLART

Age: 45

Occupation: Incumbent councilman, Ventura County land use planner.

Education: Bachelor’s in political science from UC Riverside; master’s degree in public administration from USC.

Background: Collart was elected to the council four years ago on a slow-growth campaign. He favored an environmental review for the proposed state university on Taylor Ranch and voted for a resolution that backed away from the council’s initial support for the campus. He was on the Ventura Parks and Recreation Commission for nine years and the city’s Planning Commission for one year.

Issues: Collart advocates revitalizing the city’s downtown and expanding the Buenaventura Mall. He favors building a desalination plant as a long-term source of water for the city and wants a long-term greenbelt between Ventura and Oxnard. He advocates term limits for council members.

* JAMES MONAHAN

Age: 58

Occupation: Incumbent councilman, welding contractor.

Education: Associate’s degree from Ventura College.

Background: Monahan was elected to the council in 1977. For much of his 16 years on the council, he has been a politically conservative maverick. He supported a resolution that backed away from the council’s initial support for a state university at Taylor Ranch. He is a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Ventura Elks Lodge.

Issues: Monahan favors building a convention center at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. He wants to increase funding for the police and fire departments. He favors decreasing traffic mitigation fees for developers. He supports hiring an economic development director who would lure businesses to Ventura. He consistently votes for development.

* VIRGINIA WEBER

Age: 44

Occupation: Educational grants administrator.

Education: Associate’s degree from Ventura College; bachelor’s degree in creative writing from UC Santa Barbara.

Background: Weber served on the 1992-93 Ventura County Grand Jury. She has worked as a classroom aide at Poinsettia School and is active in local youth organizations. She is the daughter-in-law of Jack Weber, who owns a car dealership in Ventura.

Issues: Weber wants to recruit small, family-run businesses to the downtown and Ventura Avenue areas. She supports boosting tourism, especially in the downtown area. If elected, she would give fire, police and gang prevention programs top priority in city funding.

* NEIL DEMERS-GREY

Age: 28

Occupation: Secretary

Education: Studied data processing for two years at Bay De Noc College in Escanaba, Mich.

Background: Founder and president of Unity Pride Coalition of Ventura County. Co-founder of Quilt Project Ventura County. Past vice president AIDS Care of Ventura County. Member of Greenpeace International.

Issues: Demers-Grey wants to increase funding for police and fire services. He supports educating people about environmental waste and advocates car-pooling and bicycling. He is interested in expanding mass transit, such as Metrolink, to fight traffic and air problems. He wants to put on weekly cultural events at the Ventura Pier to draw tourists.

* CLARK OWENS

Age: 57

Occupation: Real estate broker for Herrick & Co.

Education: Attended Ventura College, Santa Barbara City College and UC Santa Barbara.

Background: Owens has served as a city planning commissioner since 1987. He was on the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee in 1986. He has twice served as president of the Ventura Assn. of Realtors.

Issues: Owens wants to form a citizens task force made up of business and community leaders to woo companies to Ventura and address business concerns. He wants to streamline the permit process at City Hall. He supports revitalizing the downtown area and promoting tourism. He favors restarting a trolley service that would stop at the Ventura Harbor, Ventura Pier and downtown. He favors expanding programs such as Neighborhood Watch and DARE.

* CARROLL DEAN WILLIAMS

Age: 51

Occupation: Manufacturing engineer.

Education: Not available.

Background: An outspoken council critic, Williams ran unsuccessfully in 1991 and received 557 votes. Williams filed so many lawsuits against the city that Ventura officials took him to court in August and had him declared a “vexatious litigant,” which means that he is not allowed to file lawsuits unless they are approved by the presiding judge or unless he is represented by an attorney.

Issues: Williams wants to cut salaries of top city officials, including the city manager, police chief, city clerk and city attorney. He wants to lessen regulations for businesses. If elected, he would push to overturn the alcohol ban on the Ventura Pier and the closure of Poli Street.

* CHARLES KISTNER

Age: 33

Occupation: Part-owner of Buenaventura Evaluation Service & Testing, a job evaluation firm.

Education: Holds an associate’s degree from Moorpark College and a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara.

Background: Kistner has worked as a volunteer on campaigns for Republican Reps. Robert J. Lagomarsino and Elton Gallegly, and Oxnard Councilman Andres Herrera. Most recently, he was campaign manager for Oxnard City Councilman Tom Holden.

Issues: Kistner wants to increase funding for the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, and decrease fees for youth leagues using city parks. He also wants a shark tank or other tourist attraction built at the Ventura Harbor Village.

* BRIAN LEE RENCHER

Age: 33

Occupation: Business administration student.

Education: Attended Ventura College.

Background: Rencher ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1991, receiving 282 votes. He frequently attends the weekly council meetings and has publicly criticized the council on a variety of issues.

Issues: Rencher favors building a pipeline to the State Water Project. He supports redevelopment of the downtown area and wants to provide tax incentives for businesses to move to Ventura. He favors recycling and water conservation programs. He supports affordable housing. If elected, he promises to fund a “full-time” city library and reinstate the annual Fourth of July fireworks show.