Developers and the Race for a New Supervisor

The developers in Ventura County are showing that they have big-time worries. They have just circled their wagons to protect themselves from the possibility that Linda Parks might become our next county supervisor.

They fear Parks because of her commitment to good planning that produces buildings on our land that benefit the needs of residents and not the needs of developers, who only care about their profits. Parks wants to protect us from over-development that leads to traffic congestion, poor air quality and strains our schools and police resources.

In a letter distributed to area newspapers, billionaire developer David H. Murdock said Parks asked for his help last fall.

At first Murdock says that she asked him for money, then he says that she asked for his help. Parks says that she was not there at all. It looks like Murdock not only has his dates mixed up, he also has what he was asked mixed up!

Murdock is one of the largest developers in Ventura County. He donated more than $90,000 to Randy Hoffman’s campaign.

Now on to another tactic. Assemblyman Tony Strickland sent me a letter stating that he supports Hoffman and “slings mud” at Parks. He did this using my tax dollars. The letter was sent to all the Republicans in his district. I would think that it is illegal to use government money to support candidates for office. I know that is immoral!

I have a dream that the tactics of the developers will be seen by the voters and that Parks will be our next supervisor. Then the developers will be stopped from over-building in our town and the needs of the residents will be preserved.

Jim McHarg

Thousand Oaks

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When asked about a claim by David Murdock that she approached him for financial help in her campaign for the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the best Linda Parks could do was change the subject by saying, “What you have here is [her opponent, Randy Hoffman] trying to justify taking [money] from the largest landowner in District 2.” (Times, Feb. 5)

Why Hoffman’s name would come up in regard to the validity of statements made by somebody else is anybody’s guess. And when Parks says, “I have never taken a developer contribution in my life,” a very Clintonesque air suddenly fills the room. After all, her claim may be technically true, but it does not answer the question of whether or not she has asked developers for contributions and was turned down.

It may not seem like much and the people of Thousand Oaks are more than free to have her make city decisions for them, but the authority of the government seat she is vying for affects the entire County of Ventura. And the last thing the rest of the county needs is a politician that cannot answer simple questions.

Bruce Roland

Ojai