Council race gathering steam

With the May 19 City Council election only a month away, campaign signs are popping up all over Moorpark. Seven men are vying for the seat that became available following Janice Parvin's election to mayor.

To help local voters get to know the candidates better, the Chamber of Commerce will host a forum at the High Street Arts Center at 7 p.m. Tues., April 21.

Bruce Stenslie, president and CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County, will moderate the forum.

After putting their campaigns on hold to pay tribute to Councilmember Gary Lowenberg, who died April 8 from a brain aneurysm, candidates were back this week posting signs, knocking on doors and sending out fliers and e-mails.

This year's candidates are David Bagwell, James Hoffman III, Joseph Magdaleno, Jonathon Miller, Thomas Pflaumer, David Pollock and Nathan Sweet

And while all seven contenders hope to run effective campaigns, the funds available to accomplish that goal differ greatly from one candidate to the next.

The candidates not only have had to raise funds from the outside, they've had to lend personal money to their campaigns.

Campaign finance statements filed with the city on April 9 show that Sweet had gathered $11,485, which is more than any other candidate.

A Los Angeles city fireman and paramedic, Sweet received $2,000 from the Firefighters for Better Government Association in Camarillo and $1,000 from the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City union. Most of his other individual donations came from family and friends living on the East Coast.

Sweet lived and worked in Providence, R.I. before moving to California to join the L.A. Fire Department about four years ago. He moved to Moorpark from Goleta two years ago.

"I know there are other candidates that have more name recognition, but I'm going out and talking to people individually to tell them what I want to do for the city and I've been getting good feedback," said Sweet, who's so far spent $4,530 on his campaign.

Contractor and businessman David Bagwell is the secondhighest money raiser, having so far collected $6,770.

Bagwell received individual donations in the $100 to $250 range from local residents and business owners such as Randy and Margit Wheeler and real estate agent John Newton. Randy Wheeler is a Rotary Club member and president of Pathfinder Metrics in Moorpark.

"I'd like to get more (contributions) in," Bagwell told the Moorpark Acorn, noting that after sending out a mailer this week he's spent more money than he's received.

Bagwell is running on a probusiness platform.

"A lot of developers and contractors said they won't do business in Moorpark again because it's too unfriendly to do business in Moorpark, so I'd like to change," Bagwell said.

Candidate David Pollock, a school board member, has collected $3,320 towards his campaign.

"We will be going full-throttle to election day," said Pollock, who said he'd spent $2,580 on his candidacy as of April 9.

Pollock raised $1,300 from individual donations, including $350 from Councilmember Clint Harper and $250 from former Planning Commissioner Robert Peskay.

"This economy is tight everywhere for fundraising, but I'm pleased with the contributions I've raised so far." He said an extra $700 has rolled in since statements were filed with the city last week.

Pollock said he is running because he wants to ensure that local government remains open, accountable and responsive to the concerns of residents.

Jonathon Miller, an insurance claims adjuster, has yet to receive any contributions, according to the latest campaign finance statements. As of April 9 he'd taken out a loan of $1,550 and spent $1,445.

"I'm not real good about asking people for money," said Miller, who acknowledged that he would have to seek donations over the next few weeks to support his campaign effort.

Miller said he wants to use his experience as a negotiator in the insurance industry and as an expert on infrastructure and development in the military to help the city make it through tough fiscal times.

Thomas Pflaumer, James Hoffman and Jose Magdaleno have each raised and spent less than $1,000, not counting the $675 cost of a ballot statement for those candidates who chose to file one.

Pflaumer, a parks and recreation commissioner, said he's using a grassroots approach and the Internet to reach voters and save resources. "Money doesn't buy the position; a person earns the position," he said.

Pflaumer hopes his tenacity will serve the Moorpark residents well. He became an expert in perseverance over the last few years as he helped his daughter Breanna, 18, receive the proper treatments in her fight against brain cancer.

Candidates James K. Hoffman III and Joseph Magdaleno didn't return phone calls before press time.

In an earlier interview, Hoffman, a project manager for general contractors, said he's seeking a City Council position to safeguard the local quality of life and gain political experience.