Activist to Challenge Mikels

Both of eastern Ventura County’s supervisors--Judy Mikels and Frank Schillo--will face opponents this summer who are deeply involved in a set of initiative drives to restrict development on farmland and open space.

The deadline to file candidacy papers for the June 2 election passed Friday with only one major new entry. Jon Palo, chairman of Simi Valley’s Save Open-Space and Agricultural Resources campaign, took out papers and by day’s end gathered the 20 signatures needed to make the ballot. He is running for Mikels’ supervisorial post.

Meanwhile, no one stepped forward to challenge Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury, guaranteeing he will skate to a sixth straight term.

And Chief Deputy Bob Brooks, the heir to retiring Sheriff Larry Carpenter, continues unopposed in his campaign to become the county’s top cop. Because the incumbent is not running in the sheriff’s race, the filing deadline has been extended to March 11 to give other candidates extra time to enter.

In the 4th Supervisorial District contest, Palo, a political neophyte, said he believes his lack of government experience will work to his advantage.

“I want to stop urban sprawl in Ventura County, and I think I can do a better job than most politicians,” said Palo, an industrial paint salesman. “I think we need to preserve agricultural land, and I have no ties to any special-interest groups.

“The SOAR group has really made an effort to [build] bridges with the elected leaders, but the supervisor in this district is not interested in that at all. I want to provide a clear alternative to Judy Mikels.”

If elected, Palo said, he would also work to boost library services and enhance public safety by hiring more sheriff’s deputies and developing more innovative programs.

Mikels, whose district covers the Simi Valley, Moorpark and Somis areas, said she always expected someone to challenge her.

She said Friday she is not surprised her opponent is a SOAR group member because of her outspoken opposition to the initiatives, which seek to take the power to rezone farmland and open space away from politicians and give it to voters.

The group is working to place initiatives on the ballot in all major county cities except Ventura. It is also pushing a countywide measure.

“I guess we have a campaign,” Mikels said. “We’re ready. I always thought someone would file against me, and probably at the last minute.

“I had heard through the grapevine that the environmental people wanted both east county seats, so I was expecting something like this,” she added. “It’s a win for them no matter what. This is going to be great publicity for SOAR. He’ll be quoted on it from now till the election.”

In the 2nd Supervisorial District, Schillo will also face off against a SOAR activist, Vince Curtis of Oak Park. Schillo’s district also includes the Conejo Valley and portions of Port Hueneme.

But SOAR may not be as much of a campaign issue in that race because Schillo announced his endorsement of the countywide initiative this week.

“I got a good laugh about it when he did it, because I don’t think he is unconditionally backing the SOAR initiative,” Curtis said. “I think he realizes it is the top issue in the county, so he is making himself look as green as possible.

“We always wanted to run someone against Judy Mikels, but it wasn’t easy to do,” he added. “A few people turned us down before Jon decided to do it.”

In other county races:

* Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon will face a challenge from businessman Stephen Maulhardt of Camarillo.

* County Schools Supt. Charles Weis will square off against educator Wayne Edmonds.

* At least three candidates will vie for the seat of retiring Assessor Glenn Gray, including county tax specialist James Dodd, Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton and Charles R. Taylor.

* Three attorneys--Senior Deputy Public Defender Gary Windom, family law attorney Cathleen Drury and Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Kevin J. McGee--will compete for the seat of Superior Court Judge Robert Bradley. Bradley decided not to seek reelection after being arrested twice in one month for driving drunk.

In state races:

* Seven candidates are vying to replace GOP Assemblyman Nao Takasugi, who had to step down due to term limits. Takasugi’s 37th Assembly District runs from Oxnard to Thousand Oaks. The candidates in the race are former state Reform Party chair Michael Farris, fraud investigator John Patrick Lane, schoolteacher Rosalind McGrath, taxpayer advocate Jere Robings, legislative aide Tony Strickland, attorney Rich Sybert and Port Hueneme Councilwoman Toni Young.

* Three candidates are looking to replace GOP Assemblyman Brooks Firestone in the 35th District, which includes Ventura, Santa Paula and Ojai. They are Hannah-Beth Jackson, Gordon Klemm and Al Pizano.

* No one filed to unseat state Senator Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo), whose district also includes portions of western Ventura County.

* No one filed in Ventura County against Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge), whose district stretches from Simi Valley into portions of Los Angeles County.

Late filings for legislative posts that include other counties may not be available in Ventura County for several days.