Council race gets ugly in Agoura Hills

By Stephanie Bertholdo Acorn Staff Writer

Alex Soteras, president of the Agoura/Oak Park/Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce, and candidate for one of the two Agoura Hills city council seats, has landed in the center of what may or may not be a politically-motivated storm.

Agoura Hills City Manager Dave Adams and a city planning commissioner, Harry Schwarz, have inquired about possible misuse of chamber funds regarding the mailing of a recent chamber of commerce bulletin. Schwarz was appointed to his position by incumbent City Councilman Dan Kuperberg, who’s seeking reelection for a third term.

The race has turned into a boxing match between candidates and their supporters. The sparring began after Soteras mailed the chamber newsletter to individual residents, rather than what Schwarz believes is the usual procedure of mailing it to business owners and/or chamber members.

Schwarz said the mailing specifically targeted female voters.

Agoura Hills resident Nancee Baldino said, "I did get one and I don’t think I’ve ever gotten one before."

Sharon and Greg Seymour said they received a newsletter as well, and that they’re not members of the chamber either, and that this was "the first time" they’d received a chamber publication in the mail. The Seymours, however, couldn’t remember to whom the newsletter was addressed.

Kuperberg’s wife, Elaine, got a newsletter mailed in her name alone. "It was the regular chamber newsletter mailed to me, which was kind of strange," she said, adding that the publication was also sent to many of her female neighbors.

In a letter dated Sept. 24 to chamber first vice president Don Dusablon, Adams asked about "the change in practice whereby the newsletter was mailed to an unknown number of homes, which are not associated with the chamber."

Adam’s concerns revolved around three issues, including why the mailing list was expanded during an election campaign. He also asked how many were mailed and if the mailing was discussed by the chamber’s board of directors. Finally, he requested "any minutes that reflected that action."

In response, Soteras’ campaign manager Louis Masry said that the chamber board decided to mail out newsletters to residents at the beginning of the year. He declined to provide the minutes of that meeting and said he won’t provide the newsletter mailing list.

When first questioned, Soteras explained that for the past three years, the chamber has randomly mailed the organization’s newsletter to individual residents. Most recently, he added, the chamber’s new directory was mailed in the same fashion to residents. Soteras said that he funded his own campaign so "he wouldn’t be beholden to special interests."

"I’m building a bridge from small business to residents," Soteras said, adding that individual residents are encouraged to join the chamber for just $1.

Schwarz, however, said that the newsletter states the $1 fee is to encourage homeowner associations and nonprofit organizations to join the chamber.

The chamber newsletter doesn’t specifically mention that Soteras is running for city council.

Masry said there’s a major misconception regarding who the chamber of commerce serves. It serves residents and businesses in Agoura Hills, he said. The newsletter is distributed to businesses so residents can read it and support local stores and services. It’s always been directed to residents, too, he said.

Soteras supporters "see it as a non-political issue," he said.

Soteras countered that Schwarz was handpicked as a planning commissioner by Kuperberg and that the accusations are "politically motivated." The Schwarzes recently held a fundraising event at their home for Kuperberg’s campaign, according to Soteras.

Masry said that Soteras won’t respond to Adam’s letter until the next chamber board meeting in November, after the election.