Parks over Gibson for supervisor

Linda Parks Voters apparently like what Linda Parks has accomplished in her first term in office, voting on Tuesday to retain her as Ventura County supervisor for District 2, which includes Oak Park.

Parks, 49, received 12,932 votes, or 60 percent; Gibson 7,286 votes, or 39 percent.

"It's very comforting to see a large margin," said Parks, known for being an environmentalist and slow-growth advocate.

In 2002, Parks beat businessman Randy Hoffman by a smaller margin. In that election she earned 53 percent of the vote to his nearly 47 percent.

"I've made close friends and helped a lot more people," said Parks, who spent election night with supporters at Romio's restaurant in Thousand Oaks. "I've seen that in the number of people who voted for me."

Gibson, 51, was at Cisco's restaurant in Thousand Oaks with friends, waiting for election returns. He blamed his loss on the lack of voter turnout. Turnout was 23.5 percent, the lowest in nearly 20 years in the supervisorial race, Gibson said.

"It just goes to show you the negativity of the campaign, the lack of anything getting done. People are just tired of government," Gibson said.

During the campaign, Gibson criticized Parks for not being probusiness and for being at odds with the Thousand Oaks City Council. Four of the five council members endorsed him.

"Politics aside, I feel I'm in a good position," Parks said.

Gibson said will continue to be involved in parks and recreation, Rotary and the Boys & Girls Clubs, but is unsure whether he will run again. This was his second loss to Parks. He ran against her in 2000 for a Thousand Oaks City Council seat.