Orkney upsets Callero in Triunfo race

Janna Orkney After serving two decades on the Triunfo Sanitation District board, Thousand Oaks resident Norma Callero was narrowly defeated in Tuesday's election by newcomer Janna Orkney of Oak Park.

Orkney earned 2,729 votes compared to Callero's 2,532 votes, according to figures released by the Ventura County Elections department on Wednesday morning. Some absentee ballots had not yet been counted.

"I worked really hard, I really tried," Callero said.

In celebrating her win, Orkney thanked her supporters.

"Believe me, this is a group effort," Orkney said. "So many volunteers walked the neighborhoods talking to people and putting up signs." The Triunfo Sanitation District

oversees water and sanitation services for residents and businesses in Oak Park, North Ranch, Bell Canyon, Lake Sherwood and parts of Thousand Oaks. The district has no staff, but contracts with the Ventura Regional Sanitation District for management services.

Triunfo recently had struggled with issues relating to the oversight of its investments. The board had been criticized by some residents for lack of openness regarding its finances. Orkney campaigned hard on the finance issue and wants the board to regain its credibility.

Norma Callero "It's time to make Triunfo all that it can be," Orkney said. "We need more rigorous financial oversight, more responsiveness to ratepayers."

Orkney had the support of Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who sits on the Triunfo board. Besides Parks, the other members of the board include Oak Park resident Ron Stark, Thousand Oaks Mayor Dennis Gillette and Saticoy resident James Acosta.

During her two decades with the district, Callero helped implement the recycled water project in Lake Sherwood and Oak Park, and was involved in the purchase of Oak Park Water from Metropolitan Water District. She is currently board chair.

"I enjoyed being on the board and hope we did a good job for ratepayers," Callero said.

Orkney will be sworn into her four-year term in December.