Chamber Endorses Wesner for Council

After pondering the seven City Council candidates’ positions overnight, the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce decided Wednesday afternoon to endorse Michael Wesner for the vacant council seat.

The group picked Wesner, a 47-year-old legal consultant and former Moorpark planning commissioner, because of his strong support for the business community and his past work in the city, said chamber President Jim Stueck.

“He has the strongest background to handle and look at the issues that will be coming before the city,’ Stueck said.

Wesner was also endorsed by Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason.

The endorsements came a day after the city’s first political forum for the special election to fill the seat left vacant when former Councilman Scott Montgomery resigned last October after pleading guilty to felony and misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charges.

During the two-hour forum Tuesday night, candidates discussed such issues as growth, business and the city budget. The candidates seemed to agree more than disagree on most issues except growth.

Candidates Bill La Perch, a 72-year-old rancher and former planning commissioner, and candidate Joe Catrambone, a 64-year-old retired marketing executive, came out strongest against several projects pending before the city.

The other candidates are Chris Evans, 38, who organizes trade shows; Gary Lowenberg(CQ), 39, sales manager for a school and city bus manufacturer; Mike Carlin, 51, a program manager and retired Marine Corps officer, and Eloise Brown, 74, a former City Council member.

The winner in the March 26 election will serve the remainder of Montgomery’s unexpired term--until November. In November, the seat will again be up for grabs as will Lawrason’s mayoral seat and Pat Hunter’s council seat.