Three more appear for council seats
by Chris Wilson

In the early stages of the Ojai City Council race, set for voters in November, three lawyers are poised to throw their hats into the candidacy ring.
Ojai City Clerk Carlon Strobel said Mayor Pro Tem Joe DeVito's City Council candidacy application has been returned and approved. In order to be qualified as a candidate, applications' signatures must be verified before applications can be approved, Strobel said.
Local attorney and Ojai Planning Commission Chairman Paul Blatz picked up an application, but has yet to return it for verification. Two other lawyers have also picked up applications.
Leonard Klaif, a nearly 10-year resident of Ojai, said his potential candidacy was inspired by proposed local development projects. Klaif said he's collected the necessary signatures, and will likely file his application within the next few weeks.
"I think the Los Arboles project is the greatest disaster to hit Ojai," Klaif said. "I want to keep Ojai the way it is - as little change as possible." Klaif said he has collected the necessary signatures for nomination but has yet to file with the city clerk. He said he hopes to represent the people who are tired of increased building that continues to bring increased traffic to the city.
Klaif has never held an elected public office, but said he was president of the Ojai Art Center board of trustees for five years.
Klaif works as a criminal defense attorney is a certified massage technician and owner of Higher Ground Art Gallery.
Charles Stringer, another potential candidate for the council said, though he's picked up the application for candidacy, he'll make his decision to run, or not, within the next week.
"I'm discussing the matter with my family before I make a decision," Stringer said. Licensed to practice law in Washington State, Stringer has lived in Ojai for about 14 months. Stringer said a large portion of his legal practice and expertise has been in representing Native American tribes on issues of environmental and natural resource law. He's never held or run for public office, he said.
"Ojai, like a lot of small communities is becoming overrun," Stringer said. "Now it appears to be at a crossroads as to how to handle its inevitable growth."
Emotionally laden responses and comments levied between different interest groups, "tend to place an even greater wedge between members of the community, which I find unfortunate."
Past experience negotiating between government agencies and Indian tribal leaders, he said, will lend itself well to his ability to use communication skills and artful leadership.
For now he's deciding how he can best serve the needs of his family and still find the time for a voluntary position that is sure to require an immense amount of time and dedication. And, he said, he'll need to determine if there is interest in electing a relative newcomer who may be able to offer a fresh perspective.
In order to qualify for a council seat, a potential candidate must show that he or she is a resident of Ojai and a registered voter, must be an adult, age 18 or older at the time of the election, and cannot be a convicted criminal. The filing deadline for candidacy is Aug. 9 at 5 p.m., but will be extended to Aug. 14 if an incumbent fails to file. The election will be held Nov. 5.
Blatz, Councilman David Bury, and Mayor Steve Olsen could not be reached for comment before Tuesday's press deadline.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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