Masry’s $65,000 Raises Hackles as Candidates File Fund Reports

Money is flowing in nine Ventura County cities--more so for some candidates than for others--as about 50 council and mayoral hopefuls gear up for the crucial stretch leading up to the Nov. 7 election.

In Thousand Oaks, where the most contentious council race is unfolding, millionaire trial lawyer and political newcomer Ed Masry was making good on his pledge to spend as much of his own money as it would take to win an election.

According to financial documents filed Thursday, Masry said he had lent himself $65,000 between July 1 and Sept. 30 and already has spent most of it, raising the cost of competing for one of the city’s two open council positions and infuriating some of his six competitors in the process.

Incumbent Mike Markey accused Masry of conducting a “ludicrous” effort to “buy” the election.

Elsewhere in the county, slow-growth advocates are pushing ballot measures to restrict expansion and development. Proponents of such measures in Santa Paula and Fillmore have raised a total of $19,381 to get out their message, including contributions from outside the area. Finances for a less stringent slow-growth initiative backed by Fillmore officials were not available.

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Meanwhile, a group opposing the stricter of the two Fillmore measures has collected a whopping $34,160 in an effort to sink the initiative. Of that, most of the money has come from developers and large landowners. A similar campaign opposing the Santa Paula measure has raised $6,000.

In Ventura, the only city in the county without council elections this fall, a group supporting a ballot campaign to waive slow-growth rules to allow for the development of an $11-million regional sports park has raised $23,484 to spread the word. Of that, $20,000 came from Paradigm Properties, a property management company in Ventura. Opponents of the sports park measure had not filed a campaign finance report Thursday afternoon.

Candidates for area school and community college boards also were required to file papers by Thursday afternoon.

In individual city races:

* Thousand Oaks: Masry’s loans also kicked up criticism of incumbent Linda Parks, who is sharing ads and campaign appearances with Masry. Opponents have accused her of improperly benefiting from Masry’s wealth without its being reflected on her individual finance statements. Parks raised $19,205, including a $3,000 loan from herself and several contributions from Masry’s relatives. She has spent more than half and has $8,181 remaining.

“We have been scrupulous in making sure that we have not violated any elections laws,” Masry said.

Planning Commissioner Jim Bruno brought in $16,297 in contributions and $854 more in loans to himself.

Markey, who is running for reelection, raised $6,698, including a $1,100 loan to himself. Among his contributors were developers, local business people and community leaders, including Patricia Moore, fund-raising director for the Civic Arts Plaza.

Candidate Joe Gibson, an environmental consultant and member of the Conejo Recreation and Parks District board, raised $4,200--including $900 in loans to himself--and has spent about $5,300 so far. The bulk of his contributions were for $250--the city-imposed limit for individual donors--and came from local businesses.

Chris Buckett, a community volunteer and self-employed business consultant, drew only one $100 contribution, with the balance of her $6,915 war chest coming from loans to herself. Candidate Mary Harris intends to raise less than $1,000.

* Simi Valley: Money from developers will factor heavily in this race. Councilwoman Barbra Williamson has raised $25,068 from contributors, at least $16,000 of which came from developers and other building interests, including at least $2,500 from Beverly Hills developer Isaac Moradi and relatives. Moradi owns 873 acres in Sand Canyon north of Erringer Road, which he seeks to develop.

Mayor Bill Davis, a 14-year council veteran who is seeking his second mayoral term, has raised $2,250 since July, bringing his total to more than $14,000. All his contributions this reporting period came from development interests: The Gorian Sinay Co. of Agoura Hills and Simi Starlight Ranch LLC of Los Angeles gave $1,000 each, and Union Oil Co. of California contributed $250. Davis’ challenger, Mary Mikesell was not required to list individual contributors or amounts because she raised less than $1,000.

Councilman Steve Sojka has raised $25,097 since July--at least $9,400 from development and real estate interests. That brought his campaign chest to $33,519.

Council candidate Jim Mackelburg, a real estate consultant, raised $1,715, including a $200 loan to himself and contributions from those in the real estate business. Candidate Charles Misseijer lent himself $2,050. Candidate Brian Wilson raised less than $1,000. Jack Greenberg dropped out of the race, city officials said.

* Camarillo: Of four candidates competing for two spots, incumbent Kevin Kildee, stepson of a former county supervisor, raised $4,356, including a $206 loan from himself.

Don Waunch, a 68-year-old planning commissioner, former teacher and businessman, raised the most money citywide with nearly $10,000 in campaign contributions, but most of that--$8,900--is his own money.

Carlos Cruz, a 60-year-old retired CHP officer who is self-employed as a tailor, said he raised less than $1,000. Real estate salesman Les Meredith, 70, spent $3,955 on campaign materials.

* Moorpark: Mayor Patrick Hunter raised $5,593 this period for a total of $6,823 in his reelection bid. His biggest contribution, $1,000, came from Robert King, an administrator at Pine Crest Schools. Challenger Mike Wesner raised $1,549, including $775 in loans to himself.

Councilman Chris Evans has raised $9,604 since July and $10,556 overall--almost entirely from contributions of $99 or less. Incumbent Debbie Rodgers has raised $2,863 since July, including $1,200 in loans to herself.

Roseann Mikos, who co-wrote the Moorpark slow-growth initiative, has raised $5,476 since July, and a total of $8,454 to date--largely in smaller contributions from environmentalists and development opponents. Pete Peters raised $1,520, all but $20 of it a loan from himself. Keith Millhouse has raised $2,321 since July, including a $925 contribution from himself.

* Oxnard: Mayor Manuel Lopez is running unopposed. Councilmen John Zaragoza and Bedford Pinkard face challenges from Martin Jones, Joe Avelar, Alex Escobell and Saul Medina.

Pinkard has raised $9,724 since July, including $1,000 each from the Service Employees International Union and the Black American Political Assn. and $750 from Gold Coast Ambulance Service, bringing his total this race to $15,221.

Zaragoza has raised $14,081 since July, bringing his total raised to $30,358. Contributors included Service Employees International Union, with $1,000; Oxnard Firefighters for Better Government, with $2,500 in paid television advertising; and an individual contributor, Anna Overmeyer, who donated $3,000 worth of food, beverage and facility use. Jones has raised $748. Avelar said he took in less than $1,000. Escobell and Medina had not filed paperwork Thursday.

* Port Hueneme: Mayor Murray Rosenbluth and Councilwoman Toni Young will face challengers Helen McPherson and Duilio D. “Dooley” Pansini.

Rosenbluth raised $7,443, which includes $4,250 in donations and loans from family members, and $1,200 from development-related interests--$500 each from Olson Urban Housing in Seal Beach and Weston Development Co. of Los Angeles.

Young has raised $2,987, including $1,209 in loans from her husband Otto C. Young. McPherson does not plan to raise or spend more than $1,000. Pansini’s statement was not available Thursday afternoon.

* Santa Paula: Four candidates, including incumbent Jim Garfield, are running for two seats; candidate Alfonso A. Guilin has raised the most: $7,209.

Garfield has raised about $3,200, also in small contributions. Candidates Ray C. Luna and John Procter received the largest single contributions, each getting $1,000 since July from Service Employees International Union local 998.

* Fillmore: Where seven candidates are jockeying for three seats, six of them--Ken Smedley, Patti Walker, Cecelia Corl Uber, Albert Arroyo, Arthur W. Brown and Mayor Evaristo Barajas--each raised less than $1,000. M. Cecilia Cuevas raised $2,630, made up of small contributions and a loan to herself.

* Ojai: Incumbent Sue Horgan has raised the largest amount with $2,480 in contributions and $3,200 of her own money. Rae Hanstad has raised $525. Bruce Roland said he had not raised any money.

Candidates in 14 school board races throughout the county also filed their financial statements Thursday. Most of the candidates have raised less than $1,000 during their campaigns, and several had not filed with the county elections office by late afternoon.

Incumbents on the Simi Valley Unified School District board surpassed the $1,000 mark. Dianne Collins raised $5,000 and Janice Difatta raised $6,061. Both received $5,000 each from the Simi Educators Assn.

In the race for the community college district’s board of trustees, the unions representing faculty and staff are making a concerted push to fill two seats and seal a labor-backed majority on the governing body.

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Times staff writers Anna Gorman and Matt Surman and correspondents Catherine Blake, Katie Cooper, Gail Davis, Traci Isaacs, Josh Karp, Jenifer Ragland and Kevin F. Sherry contributed to this report.