Candidate who withdrew from MAC race wins

HAPPY DAYS—Mike McReynolds and his family on vacation. Derek Ross easily won a seat on the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council Tuesday, leading the race with 2,139 votes, more than 35 percent of the total.

With a pair of open seats on the council it was guaranteed that two newcomers would be coming aboard. What wasn't expected was the election of Michael McReynolds, who earned 1,953 votes or 31 percent, despite withdrawing from the race two months ago. McReynolds was severely injured in the Sept. 12 Metrolink train crash and had done no campaigning.

"I didn't even vote for myself. Neither did my wife," said a surprised McReynolds.

McReynolds' name remained on the ballot because it was too late to remove it when he decided to withdraw. In a statement from the office of Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who oversees unincorporated Oak Park, McReynolds is still entitled to assume the position.

McReynolds, an engineering manager who plans to return to work next week after a nearly eight-week recovery, said he is well enough to serve.

"I feel very happy and fortunate that I'm alive," McReynolds said. "I'm going to listen to constituents to meet their needs, try to keep property values high, keep crime low, and do as much for the schools to help them because that's what really makes Oak Park work."

The field also included Alon Glickstein, who received 1,248 votes, or about 20 percent of the total. Drew Fine had 567 votes, or 9.3 percent; and writein candidate Bryan Poe had 179, or about 3 percent.

Ross and McReynolds replace longtime MAC members Deena Parry and Todd Haines who chose not to seek reelection.

Ross said he feels honored to serve the community and thanked his supporters. The 34-year-old Ross, an insurance risk manager, said he hopes to inspire other young people to volunteer. He wants to promote the cause of disaster and emergency preparedness, a personal of expertise.

"I am looking forward to learning how the MAC functions, bringing insight and whatever creative thinking I can add to this community," Ross said.

Glickstein called the campaign "a great experience." He plans to continue attending MAC meetings and wants to stay involved. He said he's glad McReynolds is well, but is disappointed in the outcome.

"It just shows that voters were not as educated as they could have been," Glickstein said. "For somebody to withdraw and get the votes is not how things should run."

Poe, a late write-in candidate, plans to run for the MAC in the future, but with his name on the ballot.

"My late entry was an attempt to keep the pool of candidates strong so voters had four options after McReynolds withdrew," Poe said. "It was a valiant effort, but not being on the ballot was just too much to overcome."

Parry expressed confidence in both Ross and McReynolds.

"I think the spirit of getting involved in our community is reflected by all the different people that ran for office," Parry said. "It is also a tribute to Supervisor Parks, who really encourages and supports our Oak Park community in every way possible."