VENTURA : Local Man to Try Again for Council

A Ventura man who was rejected by an overwhelming majority of Ventura’s voters two years ago said Friday that he plans to run for one of three seats open on the Ventura City Council.

Brian Lee Rencher said Friday he would formally announce his candidacy for the seven-member panel at a ceremony on the steps of City Hall Monday morning.

Rencher, 35, said in a statement that he works as an admissions clerk for the Ventura County Community College District. But a college district personnel official said Friday that no one by that name is employed at any of the three community colleges run by the district. Rencher did not return calls for a comment Friday.

An issues statement submitted with Rencher’s candidacy announcement said he supports increased staffing of the city’s police and fire departments, as well as funding a full-time San Buenaventura Library.

Rencher also said he wants to fight tax increases, provide housing for all city residents and clean the city’s beaches, streets and waterways.

As a candidate in the 1993 Ventura City Council race, which featured a crowded field vying for four seats, Rencher received just 466 votes--less than 1% of the votes cast.

Rencher joins Stephen L. Hartmann and John S. Jones as the only three candidates so far to announce plans to run for the council in November.