Voters Face Host of Issues, Candidates in Agoura Hills, Westlake Village

By SYLVIA L. OLIANDE

Nov. 2, 1997 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Candidates in Tuesday’s elections in Agoura Hills and Westlake Village all agree on what their cities’ big issues are, but each has a different approach to addressing them.

In Agoura Hills, the five council candidates--two incumbents and three newcomers--say attracting new, quality commercial developers is the key to the city’s sound financial future.

Voters in Agoura Hills will also be asked to decide on a $1-million library bond issue and a utility users tax that would assess a levy on commercial property owners.

In Westlake Village, the need for a critical-care facility tops all four candidates’ list of priorities.

The area’s voters also must decide who will fill three seats on the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Trustees and the fate of Measure R, which would provide funds to build and renovate schools.

In a city plagued with financial troubles and a reputation as being unfriendly to business, the five Agoura Hills council candidates agree the area needs to find new revenue sources, but they have different approaches to economic development.

Ed Corridori, 54, a businessman, said the city needs a firm plan for long-term development and should look for commercial centers that attract people for years to come, not just fad businesses.

Jeff Reinhardt, 47, a marketing executive, said family and the area’s quality of life should be the top concerns when evaluating development projects. As a three-term planning commissioner, he said he advocates careful consideration of and adherence to the city’s master plan when deciding on a commercial venture.

Denis Weber, 54, a bank vice president, said courting established developers and working closely with them, giving them a concrete set of guidelines with which to work, are key to getting the quality development the city needs.

Michael Forney, 36, assistant general manager of a shopping center, said he wants to see a more aggressive and proactive attitude toward development. He also said the city should not turn to homeowners for revenue each time it needs more.

Jerry Wolf, 49, a certified public accountant, agreed with Forney on that point. He said the city needs to increase its number of businesses to boost revenue.

Two bond measures are also on the ballot Tuesday in Agoura Hills.

Measure D, a utility users tax, would impose a levy of up to 3% on telephone, electricity and gas services for commercial and industrial users. The money raised would go into the city’s general fund.

Measure E is a special parcel tax that would be imposed on property owners of up to $45 annually for five years to fund the establishment of a new county library.

In Westlake Village, all City Council candidates said they would explore ways to bring the city an emergency room or critical-care center that would eliminate the need for residents to drive to Thousand Oaks or West Hills for such care.

Christopher Mann, 21, a student and business owner, criticized Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. for closing the Westlake Medical Center in June after buying it from Salick Health Care Inc. He said finding a company that would run a successful hospital there would not be difficult. “This is a business,” he said. “There is money to be made there.”

Incumbent Kris Carraway-Bowman, 48, a spokeswoman for Columbia Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, said she advocates continuing a citywide write-in campaign to encourage her employer to reopen the Westlake Village facility. But, she added, a full-service hospital is unlikely, and for the city to consider running such a facility itself would be “financial suicide.”

Iraj Broomand, 65, a clinical psychologist, has drawn plans for a full-service hospital. Of the challengers, Broomand has the most experience in public service, having spent time on national education and youth commissions. His background includes work on a panel charged with reviewing the structure of the Los Angeles Unified School District and as a board member of the Las Virgenes Unified School District.

Mark Rutherford, 43, a mediator and arbitration attorney, said the council should work to attract a major health-care provider to the area. He also wants Westlake Village build a permanent City Hall and library facility.

Perhaps the most divisive campaign in the area is the six-person race for three seats on the Las Virgenes school board. Incumbents say the system works and voters should not change it, while challengers say the board needs to get a better handle on its budget.

Barbara Bowman-Fagelson, 55, a homemaker, said a priority for the board will be to administer funds that would result if Measure R is approved in Tuesday’s election.

Rachel Shavick, 44, a film producer, said Measure R was one reason she decided to run. She said she questions “giving the same management team more money. [On the board] you’ve got the educators and the teachers, and when it comes to dollars and cents, you need a budget person.”

Charlotte Meyer, 48, a part-time mentor teacher, said her teaching experience qualifies her to serve, giving her an “in-depth understanding of the educational issues that come before the board.”

Shirley M. Bass, 63, a psychotherapist, is called by detractors a one-issue candidate because she initially decided to run after growing frustrated over land-use issues with the current board. But, she said, the land-use issue is being resolved and she has moved on to others, such as reducing class sizes and bringing in new technology for all students.

Incumbent Judy Jordan, 57, a community volunteer and former teacher, said reduction of class sizes in the fourth through 12th grades is the most important task facing the district. To do so, she said, the district could give secondary schools funds to add sections in basic courses and pay teachers to give up their free periods to offer more classes.

Reducing class sizes in upper grades is also a priority issue with Bob Selvin, 40, a music teacher who also wants to remove “waste at the top in [district] administration.” He advocates turning the new administration building into a school, cutting salaries at the top and using the savings at the school level.

Measure R is a nearly $93.1-million bond measure that would finance deferred maintenance work on existing schools and construction of three new campuses. If approved, property owners would pay $29 per $100,000 of assessed value per year.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Agoura Hills City Council Candidates

Ed Corridori, 54, a businessman.

Michael Forney, 36, assistant general manager of a shopping center.

Jeff Reinhardt, 47, a marketing executive.

Denis Weber, 54, a bank vice president.

Jerry Wolf, 49, a certified public accountant.

WESTLAKE:

Westlake Village City Council Candidates

Kris Carraway- Bowman, 48, a hospital spokes- woman.

Iraj Broomand, 65, a clinical psychologist.

Christopher Mann, 21, a student and business owner