Forney makes new bid in Agoura Hills
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Michael Forney

Michael Forney believes Agoura Hills residents and local business owners are ready for change.

A candidate for City Council in the Nov. 6 election, Forney said his biggest challenge would be to repair the "disconnect" between the city government and its residents.

"Throughout the campaign, I have repeatedly heard from Agoura Hills residents and small business who voice their frustrations with the status quo of our city government," Forney said. "The business community feels excluded from the process of local government and residents feel their voices are not heard by the City Council."

Forney referred to the council's decision to proceed with Agoura Village.

"Most resident with whom I speak do not even know what Agoura Village is, despite the incumbent's intense push towards building the project," he said.

City officials say the Agoura Village Specific Plan is a guideline for the commercial development of Agoura Road, not a single project. The properties located near Agoura and Kanan roads are owned by individual landowners and the plan outlines certain standards that must be followed during the development of the properties.

Forney, who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1997, is challenging for one of the seats held by incumbents Dan Kuperberg and John Edelston.

To return the city "back to the people," Forney believes a change in leadership is warranted.

"We simply cannot afford to elect an incumbent to four more years of service when he has not served the needs of the whole community of Agoura Hills," Forney said.

"As an elected official, I would initiate a communications-driven outreach program to better enable us to put a more precise finger on the pulse of our residents' and small business owners' wants and needs," he said. "Many residents and small business owners in Agoura Hills have voiced concerns that the incumbents have not lived up to the expectations of the residents as the incumbents have served their own interests and not those of the community."

Forney charged the City Council with serving the needs of a few "special interest groups," but did not identify any groups in particular.

"Those of us who live and work in Agoura Hills want to be able to devote our free time to our families, whether that be as a room parent, coach or participating in other activities that enhance and uplift the quality of life in Agoura Hills," Forney said. "The only way to move towards these types of goals is to give Agoura Hills back to its people.

Forney has garnered endorsements from several business owners, including Jess Ruf, owner of the Do-It Center, Alex Lovy, owner of Agoura Deli, Michael Adler of Agoura Design Center and Adler Realty Investments, and Bernie Wickman, owner of Reeds Furniture.

Mary Altmann, a Malibou Lakeside resident who is a leading opponent of the Agoura Village plan, has endorsed Forney's candidacy, and so has Ken Kossoff, a local attorney. Forney said Garry Galvan, principal at Willow Elementary School, and Laureen Crisafulli, a business owner, are endorsing him also.

Forney, who has raised $250 for his campaign, said he is the only "true independent candidate" running for City Council. "I am not afraid to stand up and do the right thing, and address important or controversial local issue that interests the community as a whole," he said.

"By changing leadership we can chart a new course towards better relationships between government and the community," Forney said.