ELECTIONS / BOARD OF SUPERVISORS : Simi Councilwoman Challenges Howard

Simi Valley City Councilwoman Barbara Williamson on Wednesday announced her bid for county supervisor, emerging as the first candidate to challenge incumbent Vicky Howard in the June election.

Flanked by half a dozen supporters on a scrubby hillside overlooking the city, Williamson criticized her opponent for indecisiveness on the county budget and for permitting trash from elsewhere in Southern California to be dumped at the Simi Valley Landfill.

“Our county supervisor has lost touch with this community,” said Williamson, 48, a banking executive. “The supervisor’s job is to know the concerns of the people 365 days a year.”

Howard, who refused to comment on Williamson’s criticisms, questioned the timeliness of launching a campaign when many residents are struggling to recover from the Jan. 17 earthquake.

“If she wants to run around and campaign, that’s fine,” said Howard, 60, a former Simi Valley councilwoman who is in her first term as supervisor. “But I’m going to take care of the needs of people who have been hurt by this terrible disaster.”

Moorpark City Councilman Scott Montgomery, 40, who is considering a run for the 4th District seat, criticized both Howard and Williamson.

“Vicky’s weakness is leadership, while Barbara is stronger in leadership but much weaker in experience,” Montgomery said. “The ideal candidate would offer both.”

Montgomery said he plans to announce a decision within two weeks.

Inaugurating her candidacy in front of a red, white and blue campaign sign hammered into the hillside, Williamson touted her role in defeating a measure to allow the construction of a Wal-Mart store on the site.

“I’m sure you have read articles comparing this fight with Wal-Mart to that of David and Goliath,” Williamson said. “But I will step in front no matter how difficult the issue may seem, because the issue is leadership.”

If elected to the board, Williamson said, she would work quickly to stem the flow of out-of-county trash to the Simi Valley Landfill and ensure that revenue from the half-cent sales tax is spent beefing up police and fire protection.

“It’s time we got someone at the county level who can clean things up and focus on the needs of the people,” Williamson said. “I think I’m the one for the job.”

Williamson was elected to the City Council a little more than a year ago, along with incumbent Bill Davis, from a field of 13 candidates.

She has worked on the campaigns of U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley)--both former Simi council members. She also worked on Davis’ failed bid to unseat Howard in the last supervisorial race.

Williamson said she plans to raise between $80,000 and $100,000 to campaign for the 4th District seat, which serves residents in Moorpark, Simi, Somis and the Santa Rosa Valley.

Williamson said she would quit her job as a vice president at Simi Valley Bank if elected to the Board of Supervisors. As a supervisor, she would make $64,543 in salary and between $10,000 and $20,000 in benefits.

Among the supporters attending Williamson’s press conference were three officers of the Service Employees International Union Local 998, which represents 4,200 county workers, including clerks and secretaries.

Executive Director Barry Hammitt said he supports Williamson because he likes her quick, decisive style and is tired of tussling with Howard.

Hammitt, an outspoken critic of pay raises granted to the county’s top officials in October, was sharply critical of Howard, who supported the raises.

“She says some employees get raises while others will have to be laid off and we’ll do it based on merit,” Hammitt said. “We say what is merit? She says I don’t know, I’m going to have to think about it.”