Chamber’s Council Picks Snub Mayor
The political arm of Ventura’s business community bypassed sitting Mayor Jim Friedman on Monday in announcing its endorsements for three seats on the City Council.
Candidates Ray DiGuilio, Doug Halter and Carl Moorehouse received the nod from the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.
“It was a difficult selection process because none of the endorsements went to Jim Friedman, who is the sitting mayor and a past president of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce,” said Bart Bleuel, an attorney and chairman of the nine-member committee.
“We felt that the three candidates for the City Council who have received our endorsement have a better view of the future and a better grasp of where the city is headed,” Bleuel said. “Members of the committee expressed a desire to progress beyond what [Friedman] has given.”
The selection process began in mid-August, following a candidates forum sponsored by the committee. Members of the committee then interviewed nine of the 12 council candidates, Bleuel said.
DiGuilio is a member of the council. Moorehouse is a land-use planner, and Halter is a local businessman and co-owner of the Laurel Theatre.
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