Four District 1 candidates take on housing, budget and water at chamber forum
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — A former bounty hunter, an aerospace executive, a former local business owner and the sitting incumbent made their case for the District 1 seat on the Simi Valley City Council at a candidate forum Sept. 30, where all four said they would not back a sales tax increase to pay for school resource officers.
Incumbent Joseph Ayala faced challengers Jill Abele, Anthony Thompson and Todd Taylor at the Cultural Arts Center during the forum hosted by the chamber of commerce. Candidates for mayor, council districts 2 and 4, Simi Valley Unified School Board, and the Ventura County Board of Education also participated in the forum, with each slate of contenders taking the stage separately. The election is held Nov. 3.
Thompson, an aerospace executive, said the city should spend down its surplus and fix sidewalks before someone else gets hurt. Taylor, a licensed private investigator and former bounty hunter, questioned why the council paid $30,000 for a survey when artificial intelligence could do it for a fraction of the cost. Abele, who ran a local business, said the city has not reviewed its pension debt since 2019 and wants annual reports on whether contracts are worth the money. Ayala, appointed to fill a vacancy earlier this year, defended the council's record and said the city has made extra pension payments that saved taxpayers $3.5 million.
The disagreement turned sharpest on the budget. Thompson said he hears from people who have tripped on broken sidewalks and does not see the point of sitting on a $10.5 million surplus when streets need work. Ayala said the city earned a AAA credit rating and has won financial reporting awards for 44 straight years.
On water, all four called for less dependence on imports. Nearly all of the city's drinking water flows through a single tunnel from the State Water Project. Ayala pointed to a new study on treating brackish groundwater. Abele said the city needs more storage and desalination. Thompson said the city should sell treated wastewater to golf courses and parks. Taylor said every department and major development should account for available supply before moving forward.
The candidates took different positions on Measure A, which would raise the hotel tax from 10% to 12%. Ayala said the increase works out to about $4 a night and only affects guests, not residents. Thompson said he would never raise taxes on residents but does not think the rate would scare off visitors. Taylor said some of the revenue should go toward homelessness programs. Abele opposed the measure, saying the city has the lowest hotel occupancy rate in the area and should focus on improving the experience and attracting new properties instead.
On housing, the candidates agreed that supply is the problem but offered different fixes. Abele said her own daughter cannot afford to buy here and proposed a program to help first responders live in town. She said she would support condominiums over apartments because they lead to ownership. Ayala said the city has a down payment assistance program for couples earning up to $158,000 that too few people know about. Thompson said housing follows good jobs and blamed the problem on low-wage employers. Taylor said accessory dwelling units could help younger residents afford to stay.
All four said they would not support a sales tax increase to pay for school resource officers. Historically, the city has been paying for two officers to work on SVUSD campuses through the police department's budget. Ayala, who has a child in the district, said the city and school district created a joint working group to evaluate overall campus safety needs, staffing levels, and potential future cost-sharing or funding adjustments between the city and SVUSD. Thompson said the cost should be shared with the district and recalled a dedicated officer who could stop fights before they began because students respected him. Abele and Taylor both called for cost sharing and said the city should add officers without raising taxes.
Taylor opened the forum by noting his 28 years as a private investigator and 22 years as a bounty hunter. He said he is the only candidate with hands-on experience protecting people. Thompson said he stepped up in 2007 to save jobs and asked voters to return the favor. Abele said she has led large teams and knows how to manage a budget. Ayala said the council appointed him to fill Dee Dee Cavanaugh's seat after the death of Mayor Fred Thomas and pointed to endorsements from people who work on housing, public safety and the economy.
The city carries $169 million in unfunded pension liability and $72 million in retiree health care debt, according to Abele. She said those obligations are squeezing out road repairs and other services. Ayala said the city has made $17 million in additional pension payments over five years and saved money in the process.
Thompson said deferring maintenance costs more later. Taylor said the city is in good shape but should not assume it will stay that way. Abele said the council should review contracts annually to make sure they are worth the cost. Ayala said every dollar spent is taxpayer money and he treats it like his own.
The forum took place Sept. 30. The moderators were Anthony Angelini, Brian Dennert and Bill Klepper.
