COUNTYWIDE : Commissioner Bows Out of Judicial Race

Ventura County Municipal Court Commissioner John V. Paventi has withdrawn from the race for an open Municipal Court judgeship, leaving three candidates on the June 2 ballot.

In a letter Saturday announcing his withdrawal, Paventi, 47, said the number of candidates made a November runoff election almost a certainty. “I feel that attempting a nine-month, two-election campaign effort . . . would place too much of a financial burden upon my family,” Paventi wrote.

Since 1988, Paventi has been under contract as a Municipal Court commissioner, acting essentially as a judge in traffic, misdemeanor and small-claims matters. In an interview earlier this month, he predicted that his commissioner experience, combined with support from law enforcement because of his background as a former prosecutor, would make him a strong candidate. Only a few weeks ago, Paventi paid the non-refundable $900 fee to get on the ballot.

But just before the deadline to file declarations of candidacy, Deputy Dist. Atty. Edward F. Brodie entered the race and appeared poised to sap much of Paventi’s expected law enforcement support. Brodie said Tuesday that he has the endorsement of Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury and other top prosecutors.

Also seeking the seat, which is being vacated by Judge John J. Hunter, are Deputy Public Defender Gary Windom and Ernest Larry DeSha, a Camarillo attorney.