DODD, GOODWIN TO FIGHT FOR ASSESSOR.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

There will be runoff elections in November for the Ventura County Assessor's post and the Ventura Superior Court seat vacated by Judge Robert Bradley, and candidates in both contests said Wednesday that voters will have clear choices.

James Dodd and Dan Goodwin finished just 1 percentage point apart based on semiofficial results in the assessor's race, surviving from a field of seven candidates.

Kevin McGee and Gary Windom finished ahead of Cathleen Drury and remain to seek the judgeship.

Both races must be decided by a runoff in the November general election because the top finishers did not receive at least 50 percent of the total vote plus one vote, which is necessary to record a clear majority, said Bruce Bradley, the county's assistant registrar of voters.

``It's pretty hard for someone to get a majority when there's three or more (candidates),'' Bradley said. ``Usually, having seven people run for a county race is unusual. Usually the incumbents aren't challenged. The incumbent judges are very rarely challenged.''

The assessor's race was the county's closest.

``With this race, the fact that we had so many different candidates with different talents and abilities, it just spread the vote out really thin,'' Dodd said. ``I expect to pull way ahead in November.''

Dodd, of Ventura, has worked in the office the past 18 years and currently supervises a staff of 15 assessors. ``Voters go with experience. I'm the person from the office who really knows the job.''

In his campaign, Goodwin stressed that he has worked both in the Assessor's Office and in the private sector as a professional appraiser, including owning his own firm the past 15 years.

``I think that offers the public more of a quality of diversification and experience,'' said Goodwin, also of Ventura.

That experience also should help him be more of an advocate for citizens with assessment appeals, Goodwin said. ``I think an experienced appraiser is the best citizens' advocate. That's a clear difference, whereas Mr. Dodd's strong point is arguing against citizens' assessment appeals.''

Dodd countered that much of his work involves working cooperatively with taxpayers.

``In my job a big part is to talk to taxpayers and analyze their problems all day long,'' he said.

The contest to replace Bradley, who is not seeking re-election after two convictions for drunk driving and probation violations, featured three candidates who each stressed their commitment to public safety.

McGee, of Newbury Park, is second in command at the county District Attorney's Office. Windom, of Camarillo, is a senior deputy public defender.

``I certainly thought there was going to be a runoff,'' McGee said. ``With three candidates, I thought it would have been a bit of an upset for one of us to get 50 (percent) plus one (vote).''

Windom didn't return calls Wednesday.

The campaign to come features two longtime county attorneys with high profiles.

McGee received the most votes in the primary. He said one reason could be that voters want someone with his qualifications when it comes to public safety.

``I tend to think it does favor a prosecutor over a public defender. You couldn't ask for a clearer difference in backgrounds,'' McGee said.