SIMI VALLEY : Mayor Stratton Plans to Seek Fifth Term

Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton announced Thursday that he will seek a fifth term in the November election, and Planning Commissioner Dean F. Kunicki, 49, said he would announce today his plans to run for City Council.

Stratton, who was first elected to the City Council 15 years ago, has served as mayor since 1986.

Earlier this year, the 47-year-old Stratton tried to run for county auditor-controller, but the state Supreme Court ruled that he did not have the proper credentials to fill the post.

“I clearly thought there was another place that could use my talents, but unfortunately the judge decided that wasn’t to be,” Stratton said. “I hope the citizens of Simi will appreciate my talents as their mayor again.”

In addition to the mayoral seat, the terms of the City Council seats held by Judy Mikels and Sandi Webb are up for election in November.

Mikels has surrendered her seat to run for county supervisor.

Kunicki, a 14-year Simi Valley resident, said he hopes to fill that post.

Kunicki is president of a Thousand Oaks company that helps businesses establish self-insured health plans.

He served as a Neighborhood Council chairman for eight years and set up a Neighborhood Watch program in his Bridal Path neighborhood.

He was recently appointed chairman of the Simi Valley chapter of the Ventura County Red Cross.

If elected to the council, Kunicki said he would work to maintain Simi Valley’s reputation as a safe city.

“We’ve been pegged as the safest city of our size in the nation,” Kunicki said. “It is not the time to fall back on our laurels, or we’ll find ourselves battling the crime that overflows from the San Fernando Valley.”