3: Saying Yes to Elois

Laying bare bitter divisions in Thousand Oaks politics, rivals of City Councilwoman Elois Zeanah spent more money last year than anyone ever had on a local political race.

But in the end, Zeanah turned back a $290,000 recall effort underwritten mostly by Domino’s Pizza entrepreneur Jill Lederer, a former campaign manager for Zeanah’s council opponent, Andy Fox.

About two-thirds of 27,000 voters rejected the November recall.

They didn’t buy it, some said, because they didn’t like the idea that Lederer had pumped $220,000 of her own money into it. And she wasn’t even a Thousand Oaks resident.

Others were offended by the fact that Zeanah is up for election in 1998 anyway, so holding a recall election was an unnecessary $50,000 expense to taxpayers.

An ebullient Zeanah took the results as a sign the citizenry is fed up with her opponents.

“They have stirred up a giant,” she proclaimed. “This is a revolution.”

Opponents said it would be a mistake for Zeanah to interpret the results as a vote of confidence. “Mrs. Zeanah is by no means out of the woods,” said recall spokesman Peter J. Turpel. He insists she has cost the city millions of dollars with irresponsible decisions.

But Zeanah seems determined to take her slow-growth philosophy on the offensive this year against the council majority.

The seats of Zeanah, Fox and Councilwoman Judy Lazar will all be up for grabs.