RANCHO SIMI RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT.

Six candidates are vying for three open seats on the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Board of Directors in the Nov. 5 election. Directors oversee 40 developed sites and 1,484 acres of open space, as well as the historic Santa Susana Railroad Depot. The district has a $19 million budget and 62 full-time employees and serves around 120,000 residents. The information and photographs below were provided by the candidates in response to a Daily News questionnaire.

NAME: John Baxter.

AGE: 44.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in business.

BACKGROUND: I have owned Crystal Window Cleaners since 1980. I have coached youth basketball, baseball and volleyball throughout Simi Valley for the past 10 years.

MAIN CAMPAIGN ISSUE: Simi Recreation and Parks offers some of the finest facilities, parks and programs in the state, all attributed to the professional men and women dedicated to serving out community. I would be honored to contribute my creativity, energy and enthusiasm to such a atem.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN: Promoting greater unity among the city, school and park districts.

SOUND BITE: ``There are six great candidates. You can't go wrong with any of us.''

NAME: Bonnie Carpenter (incumbent).

AGE: 54.

EDUCATION: B.A., Upsala College; M.S., Purdue University.

BACKGROUND: I am a librarian and teacher. Presently I am the librarian at Royal High School. I have served on the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board since 1987.

MAIN CAMPAIGN ISSUES: The main issue is how to allocate the district's resources to best serve all our residents in an era of shrinking budgets.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN: Working with the school districts, City Council and county to create and maintain a high quality of life for our residents.

SOUND BITE: ``I am committed to preserving open space, developing parks, strengthening citizen involvement and continuing excellent recreational programs for all ages.''

NAME: Mark Ellis Johnson.

AGE: 46.

EDUCATION: B.A. in Physical Education, minor in math.

BACKGROUND: A teacher of 20 years, including 17 at Simi Valley High School; coach of recreational teams since 1972; coached high school track, football and girls soccer at Simi High, for 14 years. Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District director from 1990-94.

MAIN CAMPAIGN ISSUES: The main issue is to find funds to complete and maintain the existing parks and complete the work I started when on the board from 1990 to 1994.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN: Continued safety of our parks. Fair use of facilities by all ages and groups.

SOUND BITE: ``I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the board from 1990 to 1994 and I would like to serve the community again in this medium.''

NAME: Don Funk (incumbent).

AGE: 54.

EDUCATION: B.A. in English, 1966, San Jose State; M.A., reading disorders, 1972, California State University at Northridge.

BACKGROUND: Educator, including high school English teacher for 31 years. Taught at Moorpark College for three years. Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District director for 18 years.

MAIN CAMPAIGN ISSUES: Continued revenue production. Developing aditional public golf course. Develop remainder of community parks.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN: One of the main concerns is ongoing park maintenance. Funding must be generated to keep our parks green and attractive.

SOUND BITE: ``The people of Simi Valley deserve a committed, concerned park director. That's me!''

NAME: Steven Iceland (incumbent).

AGE: 51.

EDUCATION: B.A. in history from Duke University, 1967; D.D.S. degree from Washington University, 1973.

BACKGROUND: I am a general dentist, practicing since 1974. I have served on the park district Board of Directors since being appointed in November 1994. Before that I served on the Oak Park Citizens Advisory Committee to the park district for 15 years. Elected member of Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council from 1975 to 1989. I am a 21 year resident of the park district.

MAIN CAMPAIGN ISSUES: Who has the knowledge, experience and foresight to continue providing safe and equitable access for organized and casual use to all of Simi Valley and Oak Park's parks and recreation programs, and who has the ability to plan effectively how to direct district staff to meet the district's construction and program needs into the foreseeable future.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN: We must continue, in these tight budget times, to develop joint ventures with the city and school district - the Boys & Girls Club, school use of park pools, joint building and use of tennis courts - for the benefit of all residents. We must continue to budget enough money to maintain and, as needed, refurbish our high quality facilities.

SOUND BITE: ``In Simi Valley and Oak Park we have one of the premier recreation and park programs in California. As a district director I will continue to plan and implement our park and recreation system to provide for the growth, need changes and population changes into the next century.''

NAME: Bill Schemm.

AGE: 39.

EDUCATION: B.A. in history from CSUN; A.S. in business from Moorpark. Homeowners association for seven years.

BACKGROUND: Financial planner, bank officer, quality assurance for space shuttle; coached Little League sports; donated time to foster care programs.

MAIN CAMPAIGN ISSUES: Bringing more activities to our youth and senior communities. To have things for grandparents and grandchildren to do together.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN: Park safety and lighting. As we continue to grow in size and outside area's influence our community, safety measures must be enhanced. Added lighting and security are only two ways of dealing with this problem.

SOUND BITE: ``I have the ability to listen to the communities' needs, make sound judgments, overcome challenges and achieve consistent results.''

CAPTION(S):

5 Photos

Photo: (1) No caption (John Baxter)

(2) No caption (Bonnie Carpenter)

(3) No caption (Mark Ellis Johnson)

(4) No caption (Don Funk)

(5) No caption (Steven Iceland)