ELECTION ISSUES TOUCH ALL FILING PERIOD TO OPEN.

Byline: Joseph Giordono Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - The old saying that all politics is local has extra meaning for Ventura County voters this fall, as nine cities, 22 school districts, 22 special districts and three county supervisorial districts have seats up for grabs.

The official filing period for all local elections opens today and runs through Aug. 11.

And though it is these levels of government that have the most direct impact on voters, county officials expect the presidential election to draw large voter turnout.

``We always have the heaviest turnout when there is a presidential election, and coupled with some local measures and elections, there is a lot of interest in the elections this year,'' said Bruce Bradley, Ventura County assistant registrar of voters.

Though countywide turnout was 66 percent in the last presidential election four years ago, Bradley said that officials expect 80 percent turnout this year.

``Everything that concerns the local person will be on this ballot,'' Bradley said.

``From the council races to all the school boards to water and sewer districts, all 10 cities will have something of importance to voters.''

Also expected to draw voter interest are a number of big-name candidates.

Noted Westlake Village attorney Ed Masry is considering a run for the Thousand Oaks City Council.

And there are heated races for two seats on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. In one race, Steve Bennett and Jim Monahan face off; in the other, incumbent Kathy Long faces a challenge from Michael Morgan.

Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis will likely face a familiar opponent in Lawrence Fick, who pursued an unsuccessful campaign two years ago.

But no one else has stepped forward in Simi Valley, where Barbra Williamson and Steve Sojka have no challengers yet.

``It is my experience that people will wait until toward the end of the filing period before they announce,'' said Councilman Sojka, who announced his candidacy Thursday.

``I'm sure that we won't be getting a free pass though. I expect that someone will announce,'' he said.

Sojka was appointed to fill the term vacated when Davis became mayor in 1998, making this his first official campaign.

In Moorpark, Mayor Patrick Hunter is up for re-election, as are council members Chris Evans and Debbie Rogers.

Council seats are also up for grabs in Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Santa Paula.

Among the special districts holding board elections are the Bell Canyon Community Services District, Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council, Calleguas Municipal Water District, Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

Four of the five directors of the Calleguas Water District are up for re-election, as are three of the directors of the Rancho Simi park district.

Five incumbents on the Ojai Valley Sanitary District board are up for election.

``Having a competitive presidential race will certainly boost voter turnout overall, which is good for the local elections,'' Bradley said.

``Local elections are the most important because those results have the most direct impact on voters.''