4 Running for Kildee’s Seat Spar Mildly

Four candidates vying to replace retiring Ventura County Supervisor Maggie Kildee put themselves up for scrutiny Friday night, answering questions on everything from commercial air service to the protection of farmland.

Fillmore Mayor Roger Campbell, Camarillo Councilman Mike Morgan and Kildee aides Kathy Long and Al Escoto found little to disagree on during a candidates’ forum at Leisure Village, a senior citizens community in Camarillo.

The four are competing in the March 26 election to replace Kildee, whose sprawling 3rd District includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai and portions of Thousand Oaks.

During Friday’s forum, one of the key issues was the proposed development of a commercial airport at the nearby Point Mugu Navy base.

Long and Morgan, both Camarillo residents, said they oppose the airport plan due to fears that it would promote development on surrounding farmland. They also are not convinced that all flights would be diverted around the city and are concerned about safety and environmental issues, particularly the noise an airport could generate.

“I believe a joint-use airport would violate our right to safe and quiet neighborhoods,” Long said. “I don’t believe it would be a sound investment in any way, and I would never support it.”

Long added that she is not convinced commercial carriers want to come to Ventura County. “I think it would be a big price to pay to be stuck with a white elephant, because there is no commercial interest,” she said.

As a member of the Camarillo City Council for the past 16 years, Morgan said he has fought to keep Camarillo Airport from expanding into a commercial enterprise and would do the same in the case of Point Mugu.

“Why do we want to add one ton of pollutants per plane per year to this county?” he asked. “We’re going to be the most impacted in Camarillo.”

Though Campbell and Escoto have expressed support for a commercial airport in the past, both appeared to back away from that position Friday night.

“There are too many things you wouldn’t feel comfortable with and I wouldn’t feel comfortable with, so I’m opposed to it,” Escoto said.

Despite expressing reservations, Campbell appeared to leave the door open to the possibility. “I’m opposed to it if it’s going to be a noise problem,” he said.

Each candidate vowed to fight to protect farmland from development. As the county enters the 21st century, they said, pressures to urbanize are increasing.

“This is my campaign theme,” Escoto said. “We need to stop the insane practice of zoning for dollars.”

Campbell said the county must hold fast to its development policies, which strongly limit growth on agricultural land.

“Development should happen within a city’s boundaries,” he said. “You shouldn’t build anywhere but within cities.”

Some audience members complained that more hard-hitting questions were not directed at the candidates Friday night.

At one point, before he stormed out of the auditorium, one man shouted: “They all agree!”