Recall Funding Data Available on Net

Thousand Oaks residents curious about the money behind the recall of Councilwoman Elois Zeanah will now be able to get full financial disclosure reports on the Internet.

The Thousand Oaks City Council voted 3 to 2 last week to post the recall campaign contribution statements on the city’s Web site. In an unusual political split, council members Linda Parks, Elois Zeanah and Andy Fox voted to place the information on the Net, while Mayor Judy Lazar and Councilman Mike Markey voted against the motion.

After a request from Parks, the City Council passed a campaign disclosure law in March that required recall groups to report all contributions of $250 or more within 24 hours, and the city clerk’s office to post those donations on the Internet within 72 hours.

Parks said in a memo to the council, however, that she has received complaints from constituents who wanted to see all the contributions, including those less than $250, so they could reach a clearer understanding of the finances.

After receiving a call from Parks on the issue, City Clerk Nancy Dillon said in a memo to City Manager Grant Brimhall that her office had been posting recall contributions on the Internet as required. The city clerk’s office has not placed the entire recall finance reports on the Internet because it was not directed to do so by the council, Dillon said.

Zeanah faces a recall election Nov. 4. A group looking to recall Lazar and Fox announced Thursday it had failed to gather enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot and was giving up a week before the 160-day deadline.