Young council candidate says he’s ready to tackle public office

Acorn Staff Writer


George Thomas

George Thomas

Young council candidate says

he’s ready to tackle public office

George Thomas, a 24-year-old candidate for Agoura Hills City Council, believes his age can be an asset rather than a liability.


Thomas is the only candidate young enough to experience firsthand the crowded conditions at Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills. As a result, he understands how important it is to build a new school.


When he was a seventh grader at Lindero, Thomas said he actually sat on the floor at times because of the lack of space.


If elected on Nov. 6, Thomas said he’d support construction of a proposed elementary school near Reyes Adobe Road. The new school would allow the 30-year-old Lindero to inherit space from its neighbor, Yerba Buena Elementary School.


Thomas also said the city should acquire 15 acres next to the new school to preserve as open space.


"The school district and the city council can work together to actually make it happen," said Thomas, a 1995 graduate of Agoura Hills.


Thomas said he also wants to collaborate with the school district to bring a new gymnasium and a media and theater arts facility to Agoura High.


Age didn’t matter for one young candidate in the Calabasas City Council election last March. Matthew Hooper, a talented 23-year-old, received the second most votes among the five challengers in the race.


Thomas is the youngest of eight candidates on the Agoura Hills ballot.


"I think my experiences in politics and government have given me the ability to be a productive city councilmember," Thomas said. "I don’t think it’s how old you are, I think it’s the experience you’ve had with the community and in politics and government."


Thomas, who went to work practically out of high school as an assistant to U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), said it didn’t take him long to build a strong track record. He said working with Sherman was a solid test.


"The only thing is I wanted to actually fight for the causes I believed in myself, instead of toeing the line of the person I work for," Thomas said. "Part of the reason I’m running for the city council is it’s my name and my position, and I can fight for the Kanan interchange and open space and everything that’s important to our residents."


Construction on the 101-Kanan interchange could cost the city of Agoura Hills upwards of $17 million, Thomas said.


"In talking to the residents of Agoura Hills, reducing congestion at the 101-Kanan interchange is a top priority. I will fight to ensure the 101-Kanan interchange is fixed as soon as possible."


But he added, "We don’t have the money to pay for all that … I don’t know if the residents want to raise taxes to make it happen."


Thomas said he’d seek additional federal funds to pay for the project.


Thomas, who currently works as a writer and a salesman for Beverly Hills Weekly, honed his political skills while hosting a current events radio talk show at KCLU-FM in Thousand Oaks. He later started his own cable access television show in Agoura Hills and invited such guests as Larry Horner, a former mayor of Thousand Oaks, and Denis Weber, a former mayor of Agoura Hills. Weber, who’s up for reelection this year, will be one of Thomas’ opponents.


As for the controversial issue of whether to build a Home Depot in Agoura Hills, Thomas decided to take the matter before the people. He gives visitors a chance to voice their opinion and cast a vote on the proposed 140,000 square-foot retailer on his Website, www.georgechristopherthomas.com.


"My position on it is I support economic development in Agoura Hills. I think some of the retail sales tax that is generated from that can help fix the 101-Kanan and buying back open space."


But Thomas said he wants to see the results of his Web poll before declaring his final recommendation regarding Home Depot.




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