GETTING THEIR SAY AT POLLS : SIMI, T.O. VOTERS VOICE MINDS ON ISSUES, RACES.

Byline: Enrique Rivero and Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writers

Kittie Fidermutz followed family tradition Tuesday, volunteering her Galena Avenue home as a polling place because her parents always had done so.

Not only did her gesture serve voters in Ventura County, it provided a strong civics lesson for her five children, she said.

``It's good for them to see how the system works,'' said Fidermutz, 32.

Fidermutz kept another tradition alive by casting her own ballot - at a different polling place - an effort she said she hoped would help ensure continuation of positive changes in local government.

``I'm optimistic,'' she said. ``I think we're heading in the right direction if they keep going.''

Voters took a host of concerns - some ideological, some more practical - with them as they trooped to the polls set up at clubhouses, schools and private homes throughout Ventura County.

While some were concerned with local issues such as slow growth or education, others were concerned with statewide issues.

Some said they hoped their candidates would support innovation in education, while others preferred a swing back to more traditional values and approaches.

Hobbling on a cast-encased right leg injured in a soccer game, Simi Valley resident David Owens took the time to cast his ballot at Sycamore School even as he wondered whether his vote made a difference.

Concerned with the erosion in recent years of the traditional values that he holds dear and newfangled educational approaches that do more harm than good, the 34-year-old father of two said he was disturbed by the public apathy he sees around him.

Still, he sees some signs that people are waking up and taking a stand at the polls, which made him upbeat about the future.

``I have a lot of concerns, but I'm optimistic about the way things are going,'' said Owens, a Bob Dole supporter.

In Thousand Oaks, resident Peggy McGrath said she hoped her vote Tuesday would help preserve the qualities in and around the city she's come to know and love.

Concerned with rapidly diminishing open space and agricultural land, the 73-year-old retiree - who didn't reveal her favorite candidates - hoped she had picked the right people to control local development.

The problem, she said, was that each candidate seemed to advocate slow growth. Still, McGrath says she is content with her place in the political process.

``I just feel so fortunate to be able to vote and voice my opinion,'' McGrath said as she left the Sunset Hills Country Club polling place. ``We can express what we're thinking, which is more than they can say in some other countries.''

Noontime voting was brisk at the Los Cerritos Middle School precinct in Thousand Oaks. First-time voters and seasoned balloters alike said they were upbeat about making their votes count for the presidential race and other contests.

``It's kind of interesting to be part of the process, knowing my one vote kind of counts,'' said Mark Gurich, a 28-year-old financial planner voting for the first time. ``I'm not thrilled about anybody, but it's my civic duty.''

Jim and Connie Whitlock said they have never failed to vote and this year brought along their daughter, Sarah Parkins, who voted in her first election.

``She's a Democrat and I'm a Republican. It doesn't matter, as long as they vote,'' said Connie Whitlock.

``I'm excited I get to vote,'' said the 19-year-old Parkins.

``We make choices. I think we have a say so,'' she said. ``I think all young people should vote.''

A supporter of President Clinton said most of the people she knows - whether Republican, Democrat or Libertarian - probably voted this year because they feel more optimistic about the future.

``We are better now than we were four years ago,'' said Carole Foyer. ``Most of the people I know are. Those people I know are voting.''

Voters leaving the middle-school precinct said the statewide ballot measures were nearly as important as the presidential race. Many said they voted despite being turned off by often negative campaign advertising on the measures.

``This year there were some propositions that I felt strongly about and I didn't want to let them pass,'' said a woman who wouldn't give her name. ``The negative advertising on a lot of it really annoyed me.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) A polling station on Justin Avenue in Simi Valley fills with civic-minded voters Tuesday.

(2) A man fills out his ballot at a Justin Avenue polling station. Area voters weighed a variety of local and state issues Tuesday.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News