Ventura Council Candidates Make Their Points

Housing and density, redevelopment and plans for a regional sports park topped the list of issues candidates wrestled with during a League of Women Voters political forum this week.

The 12 candidates, all vying for three seats in the Ventura City Council race Nov. 2, spoke in the Anacapa Middle School auditorium Thursday night.

They were especially divided on plans for a regional sports park on the city’s east end.

While Bob Ryan, Mayor Jim Friedman, Doug Halter and Paul Thompson said they would support plans for the playing fields and swimming pool, Diane Underhill said she would not back the park, subject to approval by voters in November 2000 under the county’s open-space protection initiative.

“I think that kind of size and scale is diametrically opposed to [Ventura’s] small-town feel,” Underhill said.

West Ventura residents would not have equal access to the facility, Underhill said. “Let’s be fair and distribute [sports facilities] throughout the city.”

Lynn Doyle Cogdill said a sports park should be built in partnership with a minor league sports team and should host concerts and other events to generate revenue for the city.

Brian Lee Rencher said the city should fund basic necessities before it finances larger projects such as sports parks.

Roger Jewett supports the proposed park, but said the city needs to plan parks comprehensively for the entire city.

“Piecemeal decision-making doesn’t work,” he said.

Candidates also discussed rebuilding Ventura’s downtown to render it a safe, economically viable place that is attractive to new business. On the shirttails of that issue came a question on how densely downtown should be developed.

“Density doesn’t have to be a dirty word if the city will demand quality developments,” Carl Morehouse said.

Charles Gartman and incumbent Ray Di Guilio agreed, but both said high-density development should not be applied as a broad solution to the city’s development issues and should be considered only in certain cases.

Edward Ryan said ensuring the city is business-friendly is key in an era when the city’s resources are becoming increasingly scarce.

“We have to chase sales tax,” he said. “We have to build a strong economy. Otherwise, we’re going to be left out in the dust.”