It's a Runoff for Foy, Dantona and a Goodbye for Mikels

By Catherine Saillant

June 8, 2006 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has lost its most outspoken member, after voters ousted 12-year veteran Judy Mikels and put two men who have never held office in a November runoff for her seat.

Mikels, 60, failed to win a fourth term in Tuesday’s balloting, finishing third behind Peter Foy and Jim Dantona. Foy, 50, a businessman, polled 38% of the vote, with Dantona, 57, a political consultant, behind him with 33%, in unofficial results.

Mikels, meanwhile, shocked the political establishment by garnering just 28% of ballots cast. “I couldn’t believe she didn’t make the runoff. Everyone I talked to today is shocked,” said Bob Larkin, a Thousand Oaks Republican who lost his bid to win the party’s nomination for the 37th Assembly District seat. Assemblywoman Audra Strickland of Moorpark easily beat back his challenge.

Still to be counted are about 32,000 absentee and provisional ballots countywide that were dropped off at the polls on Monday and Tuesday, said county Assistant Registrar of Voters Gene Browning.

Voter turnout was about 32%, which included the 90,000 ballots cast Tuesday, Browning said. The additional ballots are not expected to change the outcome of any races, he said.

Mikels did not return calls Wednesday and canceled a planned trip to New York, where she was scheduled to meet with Wall Street bond analysts on county business.

Board Chairwoman Linda Parks, who won a second term on Tuesday, and County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston held the talks without her, said Mikels’ campaign aide, Jared DeGonia.

“She felt the county was fully represented and she wanted to spend some time with her family today,” DeGonia said.

Foy said he was gratified by his strong showing and thanked supporters who walked neighborhoods, handed out fliers and organized a get-out-the-vote campaign in the days before the Tuesday election.

“It worked out just great and it’s just a blessing,” Foy said. “I’m pretty humbled.”

A newcomer to politics, Foy said his message of reducing benefits to illegal immigrants and beefing up public safety departments resonated with voters in Simi Valley, Moorpark and the unincorporated communities west of Chatsworth.

“We focused on issues that are important to them and they believed that we are going to do something about them,” Foy said.

The Republican businessman said Ventura County should not become a “safe haven” for illegal immigrants and that he would stress the issue in coming months to distinguish himself from Dantona, a Democrat.

“People say they want someone committed to reducing illegal immigration,” Foy said. “We should do whatever we can at the county level to make it as difficult as possible to collect benefits.”

Dantona said he would emphasize his experience working in and around state and local governments. Foy has no background in running for office and is unschooled in government operations and finance, Dantona said.

During two decades as a Democratic political consultant, Dantona formed many relationships that would help him steer money and projects to the 4th District, he said.

“When we knocked on doors, the voters told us they wanted experience,” he said. “We will go after resources not only from the county but in Sacramento.”

Political analysts say Dantona may have a tough time as a Democrat in the heavily Republican district. Although the seat is nonpartisan, party politics still play a crucial role, experts say.

Mikels, a Republican, was hurt in part because Foy’s entry into the race split her Republican base, said Jack Miller, who teaches political science at Moorpark College.

With Mikels gone, her Republican backers may turn to Foy in November, he said.

Mikels also hurt herself by taking on conservative Republican Tom McClintock in a state Senate primary several years ago, and by backing the moderate opponent of conservative Audra Strickland two years ago, Miller said.

“Judy set herself up for this,” he said. “She took on the conservative wing of the party and finally they got their chance to take her out.”

In her years on the county panel, Mikels has been known for making candid -- some say abrasive -- comments. She never apologized, explaining that voters deserved to know where she stood.

Jere Robings, a Thousand Oaks political activist, said he appreciated the job Mikels had done.

“She had a lot of backbone and wouldn’t let others pressure her into a decision that went against her principles,” he said. “She did a very good job.”

In other high-profile Ventura County races, U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) cruised to victory against primary opponent Michael Tenenbaum. Gallegly, 60, has announced it will be his last term if he wins in November against Democrat Jill Martinez, an Oxnard minister.

Strickland will face Democrat Ferial Masry, who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.