CANDIDATES FOCUS ON SIZE.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Daily News Staff Writer The two candidates vying for Ventura County's 2nd District supervisors seat in the June 2 election have a common denominator common denominator n. 1. Mathematics A quantity into which all the denominators of a set of fractions may be divided without a remainder. 2. A commonly shared theme or trait. - they both believe the other is out of touch with the needs of the county. Incumbent Frank Schillo believes that his 126,000 constituents support his platform of providing more services for less money. Challenger Vince Curtis is a real estate appraiser A person selected or appointed by a competent authority or an interested party to evaluate the financial worth of property. Appraisers are frequently appointed in probate and condemnation proceedings and are also used by banks and real estate concerns to determine the market who believes there is too much land being rezoned and sold for development across the county. Schillo, 64, is seeking his second four-year term after serving a decade on the Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. City Council. He is running on his record and a laundry list laundry list A popular term for a long list of Sx, diseases, or etiologies that share something in common–eg, differential diagnosis of acute abdomen of goals he hopes will make the county financially stable in his second term. ``We're right in the middle of getting a lot of things accomplished,'' he said. ``There's a lot of unfinished business and people are counting on me for that.'' Among his accomplishments, Schillo lists reorganization of the county library system; reduction of earthquake insurance Earthquake insurance is a form of property insurance that pays the policyholder in the event of an earthquake that causes damage to the property. Most ordinary homeowners insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage. rates for residents of Oak Park and Thousand Oaks west of the Moorpark Freeway; establishment of a scenic coastal route expected to bring more tourism to the county and reduce traffic on the Ventura Freeway The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California running from Ventura to Pasadena. It is the principal east-west route through Ventura County and in the southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. ; reduction of the county's operating budget Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. by $59 million over the last three fiscal years; and implementation of the welfare reform program. ``It's about reduction in spending money that was not needed,'' Schillo said. ``We didn't cut services. We just reduced the fat in county government.'' He has owned Schillo Financial Inc., a consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a , since he moved to Thousand Oaks in 1971. His three children and two other employees maintain daily operations, he said. For Curtis, 40, of Oak Park, all residents are seeing is big growth, with Schillo leading the way. He fears that developers, aided by big-growth politicians, are going to turn Ventura County into another San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . For that reason, Curtis said, he moved to Oak Park from Agoura Hills 2-1/2 years ago. The need to control growth is the point he is pounding home to the district, which encompasses Oak Park, most of Thousand Oaks, Port Hueneme and a small portion of Oxnard. ``I'm not a one-issue candidate but this area is a one-issue district,'' said Curtis, engaged in his first foray into politics. Although safe streets is a priority, he said crime is controlled with slow-growth mandates as well as hiring more police. ``Crime is directly related to rampant sprawling urban growth,'' he said. ``In the future, we'll only need additional police protection if our growth gets out of hand.'' Curtis in a vehement supporter of the county and cities' Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources initiatives, which would mandate that any proposals to rezone re·zone tr.v. re·zoned, re·zon·ing, re·zones To change the zoning classification of (a neighborhood or property, for example). re open space and agricultural land be voted on by residents, not supervisors and city councils. ``It's the voters having a say instead of three politicians - three politicians is a majority,'' he said. ``Three people can decide the fate of an entire community. It's not fair by any means.'' Curtis blasts Schillo's proposal to alter the county's agreement with the Ahmanson Land Co. that would either reducing the approved 3,050-home development by 500 units or the company paying the county about $30 million so it could buy and preserve open space in the Thousand Oaks and Oak Park areas. An agreement was already in place for Ahmanson to purchase 4,650 acres of Runkle Ranch and Corral corral a small fenced-in enclosure with high, wooden fences, suitable for holding cattle or horses. corral system a management system in which range cattle are put into corrals and fed hay for a period when the environment is most Canyon land from entertainer Bob Hope and turn the tracts over to the county for preservation purposes. ``That was a ploy to get Hope to sign - which he did,'' Curtis said. ``Now it's on "Now It's On" is a single by the American rock group Grandaddy released in 2003. Track listing 7"
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He blamed Schillo for supporting the massive mini-city, but Schillo angrily responds that he wasn't even on the board when the project was approved. ``How could he say I voted for it?'' Schillo said. ``That's a total lie. I'm slow growth - always have been.'' Schillo added that he also supports the SOAR initiatives. Curtis said he wants to consolidate emergency services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' in Thousand Oaks by hiring paramedics for the county-operated fire department so the need for private services will not longer exist. He also vowed to push for county meetings and hearings to be broadcast on local cable access channels and over the Internet. ``It's public information and that's the easiest way for the public to access it,'' Curtis said. Schillo's goals include obtaining final approval on a proposed $2.2 million, 10,000-square-foot library on the grounds of Oak Park High School, establishing land-use standards for the Tierra Rejada greenbelt area, enhancing substance-abuse programs throughout the Conejo Valley, and overseeing the final development of a municipal park at Borchard and Michael drives in Newbury Park. Schillo said he raised only about $8,000 for his campaign through May 7, including $2,000 carried over from his previous run four years ago. He attributed the low figure to his self-imposed $100-per-person cap on contributions. He said he spent about $5,000 so far, leaving about $3,000 in his war chest. Curtis said he spent $7,763 of the $9,718 raised through May 7, leaving $1,955. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) Frank Schillo Seeks second term (2) Vince Curtis Warns of rampant growth |
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