ROBBING PETER: County elections officials are recruiting...

ROBBING PETER: County elections officials are recruiting volunteers to staff the polls for free this June election to help save money (B1). . . . But now county library officials want their own volunteers to work the polls so that the $55-per-worker stipends can be diverted to the library budget. The Friends of the Library and other booster groups have 2,000 members, according to a library statement, adding that “if only 20% of these volunteers . . . participate in the Tuesday, June 7, election, this would translate into $20,000 for the library.”

FULL EMPLOYMENT: Last year, county Supervisor Maria VanderKolk cut the salary and hours of her aides by 10% to avoid staff cuts suffered by most county departments. Last week, she reinstated their salaries in full. At the same time, she volunteered her aides to help out with the workload of county administrators. “Since they are short-staffed, I’m saying that my staff can help out,” VanderKolk said. . . . She wants to keep her staff busy as she winds down her term in office in coming months. “I didn’t want them to be bored. I wanted them to be challenged.”

NEW BRASS: In change-of-command ceremonies this morning, Capt James L. Delker will relieve Rear Adm. David J. Nash as commanding officer of the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. . . . With the command change, neither of Ventura County’s Navy bases will have an admiral to look out for local interests in endless budget battles. The admiral’s job at Point Mugu was transferred to China Lake base last year.

SAYONARA: When seeking delays in criminal cases, some defendants might ask a judge to grant them a week or two or perhaps even a month. . . . But this week, Bruce M. Alexander of Port Hueneme persuaded the judge to postpone his felony drunk-driving case until Jan. 5, 1995. Alexander, a Seabee, immediately shipped out for a seven-month tour of duty in Okinawa; budget-strapped prosecutors could ill afford to spend the $1,000 for a plane ticket to fly him back.