GILLETTE WILL RETIRE FROM CLU POST.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - Mayor Dennis Gillette plans to retire - again - this time after 12 years as an admininstrator at California Lutheran University.

Gillette, 60, first retired from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department in 1987.

He entered transitional retirement Sept. 1, when he stepped down as vice president of administrative services and treasurer of the university corporation.

Still, he oversaw four major construction projects on the Thousand Oaks campus - a new residence hall, an education technology building, an athletic center and a retirement housing project.

The first three developments have been turned over to his successor, Robert Allison. Gillette said he will stay on until May 31, when he expects all the legal documents and leases to be completed on the retirement housing project.

``I had an exceptionally wonderful career with the county Sheriff's Department and valued the experience very, very much (but) after 25 years it was time, and now after 12 with the university, it's time.''

Gillette, who rose up the ranks from deputy to assistant sheriff, also worked for two years as chief of police in Thousand Oaks. The city contracts with the Sheriff's Department for police services.

``I intend to direct the majority of my energy to my work with the city,'' Gillette said.