2nd District Race Gets 1st Candidate : Supervisors: A Thousand Oaks anti-tax activist announces his intention to seek the seat held by Maria VanderKolk.

Promising to clean up government waste, anti-tax activist Jere Robings on Friday became the first to announce his candidacy for the Ventura County supervisor’s seat representing the Conejo Valley and Port Hueneme.

“After spending four years trying to bring county spending policies into reason, I have decided it is now time to work within the system to bring changes that will benefit the taxpayer,” said Robings, a resident of Thousand Oaks.

Robings, 61, is running for the 2nd District seat held by Supervisor Maria VanderKolk.

VanderKolk, who has often voiced frustration on the difficulties of balancing family responsibilities and her duties as a supervisor, said she expects to make an announcement within a few weeks on whether she will seek reelection in June.

“I tell people when they ask me, ‘Probably not,’ ” VanderKolk said of her potential candidacy. “But I’m not ruling anything out.”

Robings, who was fired from the Ventura County Taxpayers Assn. for being too critical of the large perks paid to top county officials, said he decided to run for supervisor because of what he considers “unfinished business.”

“I believe I have a very solid understanding of county finances,” Robings said during a press conference at the Ventura County Government Center. “And I believe the taxpayers are not getting the best return on their tax dollars.”

*

With the slogan “It’s Your Money He’s Trying to Save,” Robings promised that if elected, he will lead an effort to reduce the “extremely generous” benefits for county administrators and employees, stop the formation of benefit assessment districts, demand an audit of all county departments and reduce regulations on business.

Robings said he would also call for re-examination of a proposal to expand the Ventura County Medical Center and to ensure that an estimated $28 million in sales tax revenue generated locally next year will go toward public safety programs.

Ventura County voters joined their counterparts across California this week in approving Proposition 172, which makes permanent a temporary half-cent sales tax to help local governments pay for law enforcement and fire protection services.

“I opposed Proposition 172 because I was concerned that the county might shift funds already budgeted for public safety to other uses,” Robings said. “I want to be on the inside to make sure how that money is spent.”

A retired manager for Southern California Edison, Robings served as executive director of the Ventura County Taxpayers Assn. for 3 1/2 years before he was fired in January. Soon after, he formed the 100-member Ventura County Alliance of Taxpayers.

Lindsay Nielson, president of the taxpayers association, said he believed Robings had used his former position as executive director as a springboard for political office.

“My personal opinion is that he was always running from the day he had that office,” Nielson said. “He’s always had political ambitions.”

But Robings disputed that contention. “I’m sure some will feel that way,” he said. “But they’re in error. The (perks issue) was something that had to be brought out in the open.”

Nielson also said Robings was capable of the supervisor’s job, but believed Robings would be more effective if he continued working outside government.

“Why would he give up his bully pulpit in order to be part of a group that he has had such disdain for?” Nielson said. “I find irony in that.”

Nielson said if he is elected, Robings would learn quickly the difference between simply criticizing a policy and making policy decisions.

“It’s one thing to criticize, it’s another to be in the driver’s seat,” Nielson said. “He’s going to have to come up with solutions. . . . I’m going to watch with great enthusiasm how he makes the transition from somebody who gives potshots to somebody who receives them.”

Refusing to openly criticize VanderKolk, Robings said he offered more of a business perspective than other members of the board. Despite his rough-and-tumble relationship with county officials, Robings said he was convinced he would have no problem working with the other supervisors.

“Elected officials have to deal with issues, not personalities,” he said.

*

VanderKolk, 27, scored one of the biggest upsets in county history in 1990 with her victory over incumbent Madge Schaefer.

But VanderKolk, who was elected on an environmental ticket, has alienated many of her supporters for approving a plan to consolidate two giant housing projects on the Ahmanson Ranch near the Los Angeles County line.

By combining the two projects, she said, the county was able to preserve the 2,308-acre Jordan Ranch near Thousand Oaks as public parkland.

The supervisor wished Robings well in his campaign, even going so far as to point out their similar views on various issues.

“I think he’s really qualified,” VanderKolk said. “I think there are a lot of issues we agree on. He was against the four-day workweek, so was I. He was against the business license tax, so was I. I think my record has been very positive on business.”

Despite her praise for Robings, VanderKolk stressed that being an activist is a lot different than holding an elected office.

“It’s easy to be an activist--I know this personally--and to be on the outside,” she said. “It’s easy to denounce everything. It’s easy to vote no on 172. But once you’re elected, you have to balance the needs of all the citizens of the community . . . and you come to realize it’s not so easy.”

Others who have expressed interest in a possible run for the 2nd District seat are VanderKolk’s assistant, Doug Johnson; former Assistant Sheriff Dennis Gillette, and Thousand Oaks City Councilman Frank Schillo.

“A lot of people have asked me to run, and I am seriously considering it,” said Schillo, who declined to say when he might make a decision.

Schillo said he believes VanderKolk is a “one-issue” supervisor who has lost a lot of support from environmental activists because of her vote on the Ahmanson Ranch project. As for Robings, Schillo said his main concern is that the candidate has no actual government or even business experience.

“I run a business,” said Schillo, who has his own financial consulting firm. “I have to meet a payroll. I’ve been on the council for nine years. I’ve had to make cuts. We need that kind of experience--that’s why I would even consider running.”

*

Johnson said Thursday that he would not make a decision on the race until VanderKolk does, and Gillette could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Schaefer, also considered a potential candidate, declined to comment on her prospects, saying, “I don’t want to rain on Jere’s parade.”

FYI

Two Ventura County supervisor seats are up for election in June, 1994. The 2nd District seat, which represents the Conejo Valley and Port Hueneme area, is currently held by Maria VanderKolk, who says she has not decided whether she will seek reelection. The 4th District seat, which covers areas in and around Simi Valley and Moorpark, is now held by Vicky Howard, who plans to run for a second term. No one else has announced plans to run for that seat.