THOUSAND OAKS : 4th-Place Finisher May Fill Schillo’s Job

Hoping to save money, the Thousand Oaks City Council has recommended that the fourth-place finisher in the upcoming city election be appointed to the council should Councilman Frank Schillo vacate his seat.

Otherwise, Mayor Alex Fiore said, the city would have to hold a costly special election if Schillo is successful in his Nov. 8 bid for a seat on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

The non-binding decision came Tuesday night on a 3-0 vote, with Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski abstaining and Councilwoman Elois Zeanah absent. The vote followed a spirited debate over the proposal.

Fiore, who suggested the idea, said it would save the city $105,000--the cost of a special election.

“That’s a significant chunk of money, and I don’t see why we shouldn’t consider saving it if someone runs a close fourth,” Fiore said.

Those who opposed the idea said it undermined the democratic process.

“Spending this much money is a tough pill to swallow for everyone who pays taxes,” council candidate David Hare said. “But sometimes democracy has its price.”

Fiore conceded that the fourth-place finisher should only be selected if there is a large margin of victory.

Furthermore, he agreed with Councilwoman Judy Lazar that if an incumbent finished fourth out of the field of 16, it would be seen as a vote of no confidence for that incumbent. Should an incumbent finish fourth, the council recommended that the city hold a special election.

The final decision has to be made by the newly seated council after the election is over.