City Council Election Campaign, Endorsements

The Times’ inaccurate speculation about the Chamber of Commerce endorsements for Ventura City Council must be challenged. The Chamber PAC endorsed [Ray ] Di Guilio, [Doug] Halter and [Carl] Morehouse because these three were the best candidates. It’s that simple.

The Times’ editors suggest that the Chamber didn’t endorse the mayor because he voted against the Centerplex proposal and because a person from the cable TV industry was a PAC member--one of the “special interests” cited . . . Nothing could be further from the truth.

First, Chamber PAC members are elected to three-year staggered terms. It is virtually impossible, therefore, for anyone to stack the committee in any given election. Only a fortuneteller could know when a PAC member is elected what issues will arise during their term.

The PAC is in fact one of the most representative endorsing bodies in the city. It is gender and ethnic-sensitive. Although its critics like to accuse it of special-interest bias and of being the handmaiden of developers, in fact the PAC, as the Chamber itself, is a microcosm of our community. It’s members include Democrats, Republicans and Independents, social activists and fiscal conservatives, growth and slow-growth proponents.

It is not the puppet of big contributors. Ninety-nine percent of all contributions are $30 or less.

In addition, the PAC has some very strict rules. No member may be active in any candidate’s campaign while the candidates are under evaluation. No member may participate in any manner of decision-making or advisory capacity for any candidate endorsed by the PAC. Members who become candidates or actively support a prospective candidate are excused from participation in related PAC decisions or take a leave of absence. Members with a potential conflict of interest abstain from votes to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Thus, no member of the PAC with business pending before the city voted in the current endorsement. Allegations to the contrary are just not true.

The Centerplex, contrary to allegations, was never even mentioned during the entire endorsement process.

The simple fact is that the Chamber PAC diligently examined the candidates. It was exemplary in its fairness and consistent in its respect for every applicant.

It then selected those three candidates it found to be absolutely the best choices for Ventura--not the nice guys, not those who had gotten endorsements in the past, not those with the most powerful friends.

These three best choices are Morehouse, Halter and Di Guilio.

NEAL ANDREWS

Treasurer, Ventura Chamber of Commerce PAC

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As a Dunning Street resident, I’ve been actively engaged with the renovation of the Buenaventura Mall and its effect on our neighborhood.

Jim Friedman, both as a council member and subsequently as the mayor, has been instrumental in not only the effort to renovate the mall but to ensure that the neighborhood directly adjacent to the mall was well-represented and protected. He has been most accessible and successful in his efforts to ensure that all commitments are honored.

I have been very impressed with his honesty, integrity and, most importantly, his effectiveness in resolving difficult and sensitive issues; he listens and acts--forcefully when necessary.

In addition, I think it is important that the citizens of Ventura recognize that he has saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars by ending the Oxnard / Ventura “wars.” This truce is an excellent example of his leadership skill.

As a teacher, I respect his efforts to visit the schools. As a parent, I look forward to the precedent he has set; my children will someday meet the mayor and learn that government is still by the people and for the people.

I urge everyone to reelect Friedman. This city is moving in a positive direction. Lets not lose the momentum.

EILEEN RIDDLE

Ventura