Blatz makes second council bid
by Chris Wilson

Ojai Planning Commission Chairman and local attorney Paul Blatz is taking his second shot at a City Council seat.
Sitting at a conference table in his North Signal Street law office he explained that he's been an Ojai resident for 18 years, grew up in a small town in Connecticut and ran for Ojai City Council the first time in 1996. As a lawyer, he practices general law with the exception of worker's compensation. This can include handling criminal defense cases, family law and personal injury litigation.
In the past, Blatz has served the community on the Redevelopment Commission for two and a half years and spent the past three years serving on the Planning Commission.
After moving from the East Coast to the Los Angeles area where he focused his efforts on sports law, Blatz said he wanted to find a good small town to raise his son. He found just that in Ojai.
"One of the things I love about Ojai, is that you can put your arms around it," he said. "You just can't find that anywhere in L.A."
He said he appreciates that Ojai provides a general acceptance of open thought, varied political persuasion and different outlooks on life.
"Ojai has the true feeling of a small-town village," he said. "I want to keep it that way."
With the experience of service on these commissions, Blatz said he feels he's ready to step from a body that administers predetermined laws - the Planning Commission - to the City Council where he can have a direct effect on the local ordinances that affect Ojai and its citizens.
"One reason I'd like to be on the City Council is that it's a legislative body, that has an impact on the laws, whereas the Planning Commission is charged with regulating the laws established by the City Council," he said. "The decisions to be made are based on a cookbook of city ordinances. We just apply it." Moving up to the council is a seemingly natural progression. "It's the next level to go to."
On his list of important issues are concerns over traffic and uncontrolled growth both inside the city and throughout Ventura County. Community division stemming from these issues is a concern that he'll look to overcome and provide leadership that brings groups back into a working, mutual accord.
"I would hope that we could work to bring the city and community groups back together rather than think the only way to solve anything is to take it into a courtroom."
As an attorney, Blatz said he believes he'll bring an important and needed analytical mindset to the council. Though he said he'll rely on the city's legal counsel for direction, as he does now on the Planning Commission.
"When I'm sitting on the planning commission, I'm not there as an attorney," he said. "I don't independently research to determine the legality of what we do."
Since finding Ojai, Blatz has worked to serve the community with his talents and expertise. Ultimately, if he's chosen for a position on the council, he said he'd work to reduce the divisions, real or perceived, that exist in the community.
"A key to my race is providing leadership," he said. "Someone has to take the first step to do it. There is a very strong common thread love for the Ojai Valley and a strong desire to keep it as a great place to live."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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