ELECTIONS / BOARD OF SUPERVISORS : Robings’ Manager Linked to Hospital Dispute

Ventura County supervisorial candidate H. Jere Robings has used part of the $10,000 he has loaned his campaign to hire a political consultant closely linked to a controversial private hospital campaign opposing the expansion of the county hospital.

Robings said he hired Raymond Komar, a former Santa Barbara publicist, as his campaign manager in early January because of his writing and research background as well as his experience working on other political campaigns.

Campaign finance reports filed this week with the county elections office revealed that Robings so far has paid Komar $5,000 for his services. No other candidate in the race has spent as much on a campaign manager.

“We have become good friends and his skills and expertise have been a tremendous asset,” said Robings, who is running for the supervisor’s seat being vacated by Maria VanderKolk. “I couldn’t have done this without him.”

But two of Robings’ opponents questioned his judgment in hiring Komar because of Komar’s previous work on behalf of Community Memorial Hospital and its campaign opposing expansion of the Ventura County Medical Center. The private hospital considers the county an emerging competitor for private patients.

“I’m surprised,” Thousand Oaks Councilman Frank Schillo said. “I think it shows poor judgment because of (Komar’s) connection to a private hospital. I don’t think it’s proper.”

Attorney Trudi K. Loh, also a candidate in the race, agreed.

“I think it raises the issue of what Community Memorial’s involvement is in (Robing’s) campaign and to what extent he may be beholden to them,” Loh said.

But Robings, a critic of the county hospital’s plans to add a new $30-million wing, said Komar was hired after he had already stopped working on behalf of Community Memorial. Komar had been paid indirectly by the hospital to gather county records and attend meetings of the county Board of Supervisors, where he met Robings.

“Community Memorial has no interest in my campaign,” Robings said. “I have not received a nickel in contributions from anyone at Community Memorial or affiliated with Community Memorial. They are not part of my campaign.”

Michael D. Bakst, executive director of Community Memorial, said the hospital was in no way involved in Robings’ campaign and was not even aware that Komar had gone to work for him. “Mr. Komar is free to do whatever he elects to do,” he said.

Robings said Komar is being paid to conduct polls, research issues and write campaign literature. Although he would not reveal Komar’s exact salary, Robings said he believed $5,000 was “fair compensation.”

Robings reported a total of $13,770 in campaign contributions this week. Of that, $10,000 was a personal loan used in part to hire Komar in January.

The amount of money Robings has spent so far for Komar’s services is considered unusual because supervisorial candidates often have campaign managers who work for free.

Schillo said his wife is volunteering her time, and former Ventura County Supervisor Madge L. Schaefer, another candidate, said her campaign manager was doing the same. Schaefer declined to comment on Komar’s hiring.

Loh said she plans to pay her two campaign assistants about half of what Komar has been paid.

Malibu rancher Carter Ward, the fifth candidate in the race, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Despite the expense, Robings said he believes hiring someone with Komar’s expertise will pay off in the long run.

“This is not a situation where you can tiptoe in and play it quietly,” he said. “You need to get into it and swing for the fences. And if there are people who have the experience and talent to do that, then you hire them.”