OUTGOING MIKELS IS OPTIMISTIC EXITING SUPERVISOR SEES HEALTHY FUTURE FOR COUNTY.Byline: ERIC LEACH Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. -- As she prepares to leave office after 12 years on the Board of Supervisors, Judy Mikels sees a healthy future for Ventura County but warns it is vulnerable to financial setbacks without the conservative budgeting. ``There is always going to be the temptation Temptation Terror (See HORROR.) apple as fruit of the tree of knowledge in Eden, has come to epitomize temptation. [O.T.: Genesis 3:1–7; Br. Lit. to spend more than we have. What got the county into difficulty in the past was the inability to control costs,'' she said. ``It is going to take very careful and strong-willed leadership to contain the costs.'' Mikels, 60, got 28 percent of the vote in the June 6 primary, behind businessman Peter Foy Peter Foy (11 June 1925-17 February 2005) was the stage flight effects specialist who founded "Flying by Foy", most widely known for its work flying actors in the play Peter Pan. , 50, who received nearly 39 percent, and consultant Jim Dantona, 57, who received 33 percent. Foy and Dantona will face off in November to represent the 4th District, which includes Simi Valley and Moorpark. Dantona claimed during his campaign that Mikels had lost touch with her constituents and sided with developers in conflicts with residents and others concerned about excessive growth. Foy campaigned on curbing government waste, support for law enforcement, and reducing the costs of illegal immigration "Illegal alien" and "Illegal aliens" redirect here. For other uses, see Illegal aliens (disambiguation). Illegal immigration refers to immigration across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. . Mikels said she expected to be in the runoff Runoff The procedure of printing the end-of-day prices for every stock on an exchange onto ticker tape. Notes: If the "tape is late" then it can take a long time to print off all the closing prices. herself and had hoped to serve one more four-year term. She said voter VOTER. One entitled to a vote; an elector. turnout of about 31 percent contributed to her defeat. ``I kind of characterize it as the perfect political storm, with way-low turnout and a latecomer late·com·er n. 1. One that arrives late: waited for the latecomers to be seated. 2. A recent arrival, participant, or convert: into the race,'' she said. ``My base of support got split. It just worked out the way it did.'' Although she campaigned when first elected as a supporter of law enforcement, Mikels was eventually criticized for opposing increases in public-safety budgets, which she saw as a threat to the county's financial health. ``She is probably the strongest supporter of public safety I've ever run into,'' said Johnny Johnston, the county's CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . ``But when she realized the safety was going to deteriorate de·te·ri·o·rate v. 1. To grow worse in function or condition. 2. To weaken or disintegrate. if the finances were not straightened out, then she had to take a hard stand on things like union contracts and pension benefits. ``That was very unpopular with the law enforcement community,'' he said. ``But Judy did it because she realized that otherwise we would have wound up with less public safety. ``That was a pretty courageous thing to do. It may have cost her her office.'' Supervisor John Flynn, who has been on the board for 30 years, backed Dantona in the primary, claiming that Mikels had lost touch with her constituents. ``I don't think Judy Mikels would have lost in this way if she really represented her community,'' said Flynn, who represents the Oxnard area. ``People today have a fundamentally different view of growth than she does. Even though the community of Simi Valley is very conservative, the people are very interested in environmental issues. She was not in step with that.'' But Simi Valley City Councilman Glen Becerra said Mikels has always done a good job of representing the area, where she lives and once served on the City Council herself. ``Whenever we as a city had an issue with the county, we could always count on Judy to work on the city's behalf. That includes flood control, to transportation to public safety issues,'' Becerra said. ``Her contribution was very positive as far as the city was concerned.'' Mikels said she has not yet decided what she will do when she leaves office Jan. 8, but remains concerned about a number of issues, including health care and transportation. ``I'm still on the Board of Supervisors and there is a lot to do,'' she said. ``We have traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. problems that are not going to solve themselves. The economy and people's quality of life all depend on solving these transportation problems. It's a monumental mon·u·men·tal adj. 1. Of, resembling, or serving as a monument. 2. Impressively large, sturdy, and enduring. 3. task.'' She said she is proud of the work she has done with the county to help improve and expand the county's hospital system. ``I'm so proud of our hospital,'' she said. ``We've built up the number of clinics, opened new clinics. We are opening a new hospital (in Santa Paula Santa Paula (săn`tə pôl`ə), city (1990 pop. 25,062), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Santa Clara River in a fertile valley that yields citrus fruits, avocados, vegetables, flowers, nursery products, and walnuts; laid out 1875, inc. ) and doing it successfully.'' She said that overall the county residents and elected officials like herself have been successful in maintaining a good place to live. ``I have met so many good people in this county. I have really enjoyed the honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. of serving the people. We have a unique community here, with a tremendous amount of involvement you don't have in other areas,'' she said. ``There is still a small-town feeling. I think the world of the citizens and the professionals we have in county government.'' eric.leach(at)dailynews.com (805) 583-7602 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Judy Mikels is leaving office after 12 years on the Board of Supervisors. Mikels had hoped to serve one more four-year term. |
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