Mayor of Moorpark Will Retire When Current Term Ends

Mayor Paul Lawrason, the city’s first elected mayor, announced Friday that he would not seek office again when his term expires in November.

Friends said Lawrason had been considering bowing out of the coming election for some time and that recent health problems had pushed him to make the decision.

Lawrason, 67, has undergone a series of medical procedures to clear his arteries in the past few months, but said those problems did not factor into his decision.

“The decision I’ve made is not related to my health,” he said. “It’s just time.”

In a letter to friends and supporters, Lawrason said he planned to retire from his job as a contract manager for Litton Industries and move with his wife, Connie, to a home in Grass Valley in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The couple have lived in Moorpark since 1985.

The news was not entirely a surprise to people close to the mayor, said his friend Mike Wesner, a former Moorpark planning commissioner.

Wesner, who was runner-up in March’s special City Council election, said he plans to run for mayor in November. Unlike cities where council members select the mayor, Moorpark’s residents vote on the two-year post.

“We’re pretty close and we knew for a while that he was considering not running,” Wesner said. “He knew I was interested in the seat, but I told him I wouldn’t run if he was going to stay. So he told me he would let me know when he was making his move.”

Lawrason, who was elected to the Moorpark City Council in 1988 and became mayor in 1990, was praised by fellow council members for his evenhanded dealings from the Dias.

“He has done a real good job,” said Councilman Bernardo Perez. “I did not support him when he first ran, but I’ve come to appreciate his commitment and time on the council.”

Perez’s name has also come up as a possible candidate for mayor.

“Yes, I’ve considered running in the past, but I’ll comment on that later. This is Paul’s day,” he said.

Lawrason was elected to the mayor’s post twice and in 1994, he was appointed to the job when no challengers came forward.

He said his six years as mayor have been filled with high points, but he also pointed to a few of the more trying times, including the resignation of former Councilman Scott Montgomery, a friend of his. Montgomery resigned in October after pleading guilty to felony and misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charges. He is set to be sentenced May 13.

“The situation with Scott . . . left us with a vacuum,” Lawrason said. “He was a very vital and busy person, very involved with city business and it has been tough coping with him leaving.”

Lawrason said he would miss working on the council and representing the city, but he cautioned anyone who may be considering a bid for the job.

“Look at what’s involved,” he said. “Look very carefully at what it takes to be a successful elected official and think about whether you’re willing to dedicate yourself to that kind of time and energy it takes to do the job well.”