THOUSAND OAKS : 16 May Vie for 3 City Council Seats

The crowded field of potential candidates for three seats on the Thousand Oaks City Council continued to grow Monday as the number of residents who have now taken out the papers needed to file grew to 16.

If all 16 residents enter the race, it will be the among the most crowded political battles in the city’s history.

“We’ve been anticipating this ever since we started receiving inquiries about how to run for council a full year before the filing date,” said City Clerk Nancy Dillon. “It looks like there are going to be a lot of people running.”

In 1992, nine candidates battled for two open seats. In 1990, nine candidates fought for three open spots.

So far, two incumbents, Elois Zeanah and Judy Lazar, have taken out the papers needed to file as a candidate for this year’s election.

The other residents who took out papers are: Community College District trustee Greg Cole, retired businessman Marshall Dixon, firefighter Andy Fox, real estate broker Michael Friedman, realtor Robert Hughes and retired professor Ali Issari.

Also mechanic Norm Jackson, former Thousand Oaks City Councilman Lee Laxdal, Compton homicide Detective Mike Markey, civil engineer David Seagal, community activist Ekbal Quidwai, Thousand Oaks Planning Commissioner Irving Wasserman, Thousand Oaks resident Bill Williams and mobile carwash owner Lance Winslow.

The potential candidates have until Aug. 11 to return their filing papers. So far, only two candidates, Dixon and Markey, have done so, according to Dillon.