SOAR LEADER BENNETT SEEKS SUPERVISOR'S SEAT.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Daily News Staff Writer Steve Bennett The name Steve Bennett refers to more than one person:
n. A collaborating or joint author. tr.v. co·au·thored, co·au·thor·ing, co·au·thors To be a collaborating or joint author of: "He and a colleague . . . of the landmark Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources initiatives popularly called SOAR, has become the first candidate in the race to replace Ventura Ventura (vĕnt  `rə), city (1990 pop. 92,575), seat of Ventura co., SW Calif., on the Pacific coast in a farm and oil region; inc. 1866. County Supervisor Susan
Lacey lac·ey adj. Variant of lacy. , who will not seek a sixth term. Bennett, 48, unveiled his platform Wednesday for the March 2000 primary race, emphasizing public safety and services to the homeless, the elderly and youths at risk of harm - all of whom look to county government as a last resort for help. ``I want to ensure the county takes positive, proactive steps to improve our quality of life,'' he told a crowd of 50 supporters at the county government center. ``If nothing else, a county supervisor has to be the defender of the defenseless.'' Bennett, who was a member of the Ventura City Council in 1993-97, said better facilities for juveniles could spare at-risk youths a life of crime, while expanded housing options would help senior citizens who need residential assistance but don't want to live in nursing homes. Without more housing options for the elderly, ``we're going to have adult working children trying to care for their parents at home,'' said Bennett, whose wife's grandfather lived in their home from 1993 until he died in 1997 at age 103. ``It's a tremendous challenge.'' Bennett co-authored last fall's open-space initiatives that limit growth and won voter VOTER. One entitled to a vote; an elector. approval in an array of Ventura County cities and territory outside cities' borders. Implementing those initiatives will also be a priority, he said. ``It's representative of my approach to government,'' Bennett said. ``We could sit back and let urban sprawl overrun 1. overrun - A frequent consequence of data arriving faster than it can be consumed, especially in serial line communications. For example, at 9600 baud there is almost exactly one character per millisecond, so if a silo can hold only two characters and the machine takes the county or we could do something about it.'' Ventura Councilman James Monahan and former Councilwoman Rosa Lee Measures are considering a run for the 1st District seat, which covers Ventura and most of the Ojai Valley, said Bennett. While he praised Lacey's work on the board, Bennett refused to say whether he sides with her efforts to merge welfare and mental health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract , one of the county's most recent controversies, creating a $171 million-a-year Human Services Agency. ``It's way too complex for those of us on the outside to go back and second-guess,'' Bennett said. Lacey could not be reached for comment, but she has said she will not endorse To sign a paper or document, thereby making it possible for the rights represented therein to pass to another individual. Also spelled indorse. endorse (indorse) v. any candidates. Bennett said that he will ask for her support, anyway. ``I have a lot of respect for her,'' he said. ``She's done a great job.'' Bennett has already received endorsements from the Service Employees International Union Local 998, the county's largest labor-bargaining unit, and the Ventura Police Officers Association. He plans to raise $100,000 for his campaign. So far, he said the only money raised is the $900 he contributed for Wednesday's kickoff rally. |
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