Voters will hear from candidates vying for mayor, City Council, school board and county education board seats before ballots arrive.
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum on Wednesday, Sept. 30, giving voters a chance to hear from people running for mayor, City Council, school board and county education board before ballots go out.
The forum takes place at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. A public meet-and-greet with candidates begins at 5 p.m., followed by the forum from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. No advance registration is required. The event will be livestreamed on the chamber's Facebook and YouTube channels.
The timing matters. Ballots will be arriving in mailboxes just as voters attend the forum, and the decisions made by the next mayor and City Council will shape housing, infrastructure, economic development and public safety for years to come. School board and county education board races will determine how local schools and student programs are managed.
"This is an especially important election for Simi Valley's business community," Anthony Angelini of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. "The people elected to these offices will make decisions affecting economic development, housing, education, infrastructure, public safety and the workforce that local employers depend on. Voters deserve a meaningful opportunity to hear directly from the candidates before casting their ballots."
Candidates will discuss their priorities and plans for addressing issues affecting residents and businesses. The program will be organized by office and district so voters can hear from candidates in the same race. Bill Klepper and Brian Dennert will moderate, with Angelini serving as co-moderator.
The mayor's race features five candidates. Appointed incumbent Dee Dee Cavanaugh faces communications consultant Robert Clarizio, Broadway producer and financier Wayne Hampton Holland III, fellow Councilmember Mike Judge, and SVUSD trustee and engineer Kareem Jubran.
City Council races break down by district. In District 1, a two-year term seat, appointed incumbent Joseph D. Ayala is being challenged by retired businessperson Jill Abele, businessman and coach Anthony Thompson, and licensed private investigator Todd Taylor.
Districts 2 and 4 have no incumbent on the ballot. In District 2, engineer Sam Cohen faces business owner Richard Perini. In District 4, businesswoman Ivana Christmann, retired police officer Debra Dickerson, business advocate Josh Gray and businessman Scott Juceam are running. As of Sept. 4, Christmann had indicated she could not attend the forum due to a scheduling conflict with a planning commission meeting.
Two Simi Valley Unified School District board seats are also up for election. In Trustee Area D, appointed incumbent Stephen "P" Pietrolungo is being challenged by sanitation operations manager James Greenfield. Trustee Area E has no incumbent. Senior operations manager Jodi C. Lewis faces educator Ryan Rosuck.
A seat on the Ventura County Board of Education representing Trustee Area 4, which covers Simi Valley and Moorpark, rounds out the ballot. Appointed incumbent Arleigh Kidd is not running. Retired firefighter Scott Dettorre and teacher Kristina Pine are competing for the seat.
Organizers are still confirming which candidates will participate. A program and voter guide are expected to be printed by Sept. 21. Candidates who arrive the night of the event will not be turned away, even if they have not confirmed in advance.
The chamber will publish a voter guide containing information submitted by participating candidates. Angelini said the forum reflects the chamber's broader commitment to legislative advocacy and civic engagement.
"Strong communities depend on informed and engaged voters," Angelini said. "The Chamber does not endorse candidates, but we take seriously our responsibility to bring candidates and the community together for a fair, professional and informative conversation."
The evening will open with a performance of the National Anthem by Polyphonix, a local professional vocal ensemble. The Cultural Arts Center is located at 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave.
