Morgan Is Expected to Be Chosen Mayor : Camarillo: Ken Gose, the current council leader, says he will support the vice mayor.

Michael Morgan, a 14-year veteran of the Camarillo City Council is expected to be chosen mayor by his council colleagues tonight during a brief meeting at City Hall.

Morgan, 47, a federal probation officer, is known for his energy, but also for his sometime interrogative style from the dais.

“I call it probing. But whatever you call it, I do it because I want to be sure that I understand what people are saying,” Morgan said. “Before I comment on something I want to be absolutely sure of where someone is coming from and that they have had a chance to get their ideas across.”

During tonight’s meeting, the council’s five members are expected to vote for mayor and vice mayor. The duties of both are mostly ceremonial, although the mayor presides over meetings.

Current Mayor Ken Gose, known for impromptu lectures on citizens rights and strict adherence to parliamentary procedure, said he will support Morgan because he is now vice mayor.

“You will see a different approach in how we run the meetings; that’s to be expected,” Gose said. “But that doesn’t mean that one style or approach is better or worse than another. I think he’s going to do a good job.”

Councilwoman Charlotte Craven, who was mayor in 1993, said she believes Morgan will be a good mayor, given his time on the council and his previous experience as mayor in 1983. Morgan’s agreement to conduct a goal-setting session for the council helped secure her vote, she added.

“I think one of his major attributes is that he feels everyone should have a chance to speak their minds,” Craven said.

Although the mayor’s position carries little added authority, Morgan said he will work to beef up the city’s police force and help bring more businesses to town as the city’s principal public representative.

“I think we have to aggressively go after revenue producers for the city,” he said. “The factory outlet mall is a good example.”

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A 19-year federal probation officer, Morgan said he will lobby county officials to secure money from Proposition 172 anti-crime funds to pay for more police patrols. So far, the county has refused to distribute any of the money to local cities.

“If we could get just one more 24-hour patrol car, we’d be much better off than we are now,” Morgan said. The city has just three cruisers on the graveyard shift.

Born in Texas, Morgan moved to Camarillo at age 15 when his stepfather, a Navy chief petty officer, was transferred to Ventura County. Morgan has been married to wife Donna for 22 years. They have two children, Ryan, 17, and Angela, 16, and live on the city’s eastside.

Morgan said that after nearly 15 years, he still enjoys his work as a councilman.

“I like it because I feel like I’m contributing--that I’m doing something to help people,” Morgan said. “I think we have a safe and clean city, and I want to make sure that we keep it that way.”