Challengers Use Own Funds in Supervisor Races

With less than two weeks to go before the June 2 election, both challengers trying to unseat incumbent Ventura County supervisors are relying on their own money to fuel their campaigns, finance reports released Thursday show.

Meanwhile, many of the five Republicans trying to secure the 37th Assembly seat being vacated by Nao Takasugi (R-Oxnard) reported raising large sums of cash, according to the reports, which listed all contributions received from March 18 through May 16.

In the 2nd Supervisorial District race, real estate appraiser Vince Curtis of Oak Park had raised $11,028 in his bid to oust incumbent Frank Schillo of Thousand Oaks.

Most of Curtis’ money--$7,800--came in loans from himself. Curtis collected a total of $8,633 during the reporting period, including $100 contributions from Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Elois Zeanah and former Ventura Councilman Steve Bennett, one of the leaders of the Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources growth-control movement.

Schillo, meanwhile, listed $40,461 in contributions. However, $31,287 of that sum represented a personal loan Schillo had carried over from his 1994 campaign, money that he had already spent on that race against attorney Trudi Loh and which was now a campaign debt. Schillo actually raised $9,174 overall.

After pledging to limit all contributions to $100 or less, Schillo apparently stuck to his promise, collecting $7,614 during the reporting period. Most of the contributions came from local business owners and real estate agents, including $100 from county auditor-controller candidate Stephen Maulhardt.

“There’s been an awful lot of talk about campaign reform, and people voted for it, but it was thrown out by the state,” said Schillo, who was elected to his first term in 1994. “I’m trying to do what the voters wanted and, in my district, people are really tired of big spending after the recall in Thousand Oaks.”

Schillo’s district stretches from Oak Park and Thousand Oaks into Port Hueneme.

In the 4th Supervisorial District race, incumbent Judy Mikels of Simi Valley reported $22,710 in contributions, slightly more than the $15,654 raised by challenger Jon Palo, also of Simi Valley.

Mikels raised $14,200 during the reporting period, including $100 from sheriff candidate Bob Brooks; $500 from the Service Employees International Union, the labor group representing most county employees, and $500 from Waste Management Inc., operators of the Simi Valley Landfill.

Mikels, who is seeking her second term, also received what is perhaps the most colorful contribution in Thursday’s local reports: $200 from retired Los Angeles Judge Joseph A. Wapner of “People’s Court” fame.

Most of the money amassed by Palo, an industrial paint salesman, came from himself or his wife, Marilyn Richardson. Palo lent $3,288 to his campaign, while Richardson chipped in $9,869.

Mikels’ district stretches from Simi Valley and Moorpark into Somis.

In the race for the 37th Assembly District seat about to be vacated by Takasugi because of term limits, Republicans were raising and spending large sums of money. The lone Democrat raised a minuscule amount while waiting to see who she would face in the fall.

Of the five Republicans vying for the seat in next month’s primary, toy company executive Rich Sybert of Thousand Oaks appeared to have the fund-raising lead, amassing a $221,142 war chest.

Most of Sybert’s money--$140,000--came from himself. He also received sizable contributions from a number of corporations and political action committees, including $1,500 from the Farmers’ Employees & Agents PAC and $1,000 from Chevron Corp. And he received $1,000 from Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach).

Sybert, who was caught on videotape tearing down rival candidate Tony Strickland’s campaign signs, said his fund-raising success shows that people still believe he is the best candidate in the race.

“I think it shows that my support is committed and deep and loyal and is going to see me through this difficulty,” he said. “I think people can see through this isolated incident.”

Strickland, a legislative aide to Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge), was second in the fund-raising race, amassing $123,587 this year. Strickland also raised about $30,000 before January, bringing his actual total to about $153,000.

Strickland’s largest contributor was his boss, McClintock, who lent his campaign $25,000, and provided $9,500 in consulting and survey work. He also received $15,000 from the California Independent Business PAC, one of the most aggressive political action committees in the state, and receives money from Camarillo-based Christian broadcaster Edward G. Atsinger III.

Other contributors included the California Right to Life PAC, which gave Strickland $500, and the Southern California Young Republican PAC, which also chipped in $500.

Taxpayer advocate Jere Robings of Thousand Oaks raised $54,517, including $26,569 during the reporting period. Most of the money--$43,000--came in loans from himself.

Other notable contributions include $500 from Ventura thrift store businessman Ray Ellison and $500 from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. PAC.

And Port Hueneme Councilwoman Toni Young raised $5,646 overall, including $2,349 during the reporting period.

The campaign report on the other Republican, private fraud investigator John P. Lane of Moorpark, was unavailable late Thursday. The campaign reports only had to be postmarked by Thursday’s deadline.

Meanwhile, Democrat Roz McGrath of Camarillo, who has no opponents in the primary, raised $710 overall. And Reform Party candidate Michael Farris of Thousand Oaks, who also has no opponent in the primary, raised $13,638 overall, including $5,000 from himself.