392,126 VOTERS SIGN UP; VENTURA COUNTY REGISTRATION HIGH.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

With a controversial growth restriction measure on the Nov. 3 ballot, the number of Ventura County residents eligible to vote appears to have soared to a record high as Monday's registration deadline passed.

As of Sept. 4, the 392,126 people registered out of 472,022 eligible, or 83.04 percent, placed the county second only to San Francisco County's 83.41 percent rate among counties with more than 200,000 eligible voters, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

``We have a politically active, literate county,'' said Bruce Bradley, assistant county registrar of voters. ``We've had a tremendous number of (SOAR) petitions circulated. People will register so they can sign the petition. The race for governor hasn't been driving people out to register.''

Final registration figures will be tallied within a week.

Next month's ballots will feature Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources measures for countywide voters as well as those in Camarillo, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard and Santa Paula.

The city proposals call for urban restriction boundaries to be placed around each city with voter approval needed for them to expand.

The county measure, if approved, would mandate voter approval for zoning changes to open space or agriculturally zoned land in unincorporated areas.

``It's a complement to the city SOARs,'' said Lisa Burton, county SOAR coordinator.

Moorpark has set a January special election to vote on its SOAR initiative.

While Republicans continue to hold a slight edge countywide - 164,394 to 155,190 - county records indicate voters are becoming more disenchanted with both major parties.

While 37,235 people, or 10.58 percent, declined to list a party four years ago, 50,874, or 12.77 percent, did not list a party this fall.

In the 1994 gubernatorial election year, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by a 155,468-to-144,791 margin, or 44.18 percent to 41.14 percent.

As of Sept. 4, Republicans represented 42.02 percent of the registered voters while Democrats comprised 39.61 percent.

While the number of registered voters increased from 382,417 as of Oct. 14, 1996, to 392,126 this fall, the minor political parties fluctuated both ways during that period.

The American Independent Party increased from 8,110 to 8,911 during that time period, and other parties with growing rolls were the Libertarian, from 1,880 to 2,187; and Peace and Freedom, from 1,763 to 1,932. Parties to lose registration were the Green, which fell from 2,660 to 2,551; the Reform, from 3,014 to 2,698; and the Natural Law, from 1,100 to 1,011. The number of miscellaneous registrations rose from 2,338 to 2,378.

CAMPAIGN EVENTS

The following are public forums and campaign events planned for candidates in Simi Valley, Moorpark and Conejo Valley elections:

Citizens for a Safe and Scenic Simi Valley will host a forum with candidates for Simi Valley mayor and City Council from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on today in the council chambers at City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road. Information: [phone].

The NRA Members Committee will host a forum with candidates for Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks city councils at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Holiday Inn Express, Simi Room, 2550 Erringer Road, Simi Valley. For more information call [phone].

The League of Women Voters will sponsor a forum on state initiatives, 6:30 p.m., Friday, at the Thousand Oaks Library main branch, 1401 E. Janss Road. Information: [phone].

The League of Women Voters will sponsor a forum for the 37th Assembly District race with Democratic candidate Roz McGrath, Republican Toneyo Strickland and Reform Party member Michael Farris, noon, Oct. 14 in Room L6, Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave. Information: [phone].

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