Two seats open on MAC

Applications are being accepted to fill two fouryear positions on the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council. Longtime incumbents Todd Haines and Deena Parry have announced that they will not seek reelection for the volunteer positions. Voters will choose new members in the November election.

If Haines and Parry do file papers to run, the application deadline will be 5 p.m. Aug. 8. If the incumbents do not seek reelection, the deadline will be extended to Aug. 13. Applications must be filed in person at the Elections Division in the Ventura County Government Center. Nomination packets are available at Supervisor Linda Parks' Thousand Oaks office. Haines has been on the council since 1995, serving as chair nine times. He hopes residents will apply to run.

"I feel that with all of the talent we have in Oak Park, there are a number of very qualified people," Haines said.

Parry, who served two four-year terms, will miss her involvement on the MAC. As the only woman currently on the five-member council, Parry hopes there will continue to be a female among the group.

"We really need a mother/ woman perspective to keep the council well-balanced," Parry said. "It will be a big loss to the community to not have that representation there."

MAC members serve in an advisory capacity to Ventura County, through Supervisor Linda Parks, on land use and government issues. Oak Park is in an unincorporated area of the county so it has no mayor or council. Parks describes the MAC as "a sounding board for community issues" and a "guide to the county with decisions that affect Oak Park residents."

Parks commended Haines and Parry.

"They have both been stalwart supporters for keeping Oak Park the well-kept, safe and caring community it is," Parks said. "It has been a pleasure working with them, and they have accomplished much."

The MAC meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month in Room G-9 at Oak Park High School. There are no term limits.

For more information, call (805) 373-2564 or e-mail linda.parks@ventura.org.