Parks’ Choice for Planning Panel Sets Up a New Battle

THOUSAND OAKS — Setting the stage for yet another bruising political fight, Councilwoman Linda Parks on Monday nominated former council candidate Dan Del Campo to fill her seat on the Planning Commission.

But Del Campo, a slow-growth advocate who failed to win a City Council seat in the November election, will likely face a tough confirmation battle before the council next week.

“I was told by [Councilman] Andy Fox not to appoint Dan Del Campo because he would not support him,” said Parks, adding that she picked Del Campo because he was the best qualified of more than 10 candidates who applied for the position.

While Planning Commission nominations are routinely approved, Parks said Fox told her not to appoint Del Campo “or it will be a [Councilwoman] Elois Zeanah mayor pro tem thing all over again.” During a December council meeting, Zeanah, who was in line to become mayor pro tem because of her seniority on the panel, was passed up on a 3-1 vote of the pro-business council majority.

Fox did not return calls on Monday, but his allies on the council, Mayor Judy Lazar and Councilman Mike Markey, said they had serious concerns about Del Campo’s candidacy.

“To be very blunt, based on what Mr. Del Campo has been stating during the campaign, I have a lot of problems supporting him,” said Markey, who beat Del Campo by 2,500 votes in the election.

Markey and Del Campo quarreled repeatedly during the campaign last year, with Del Campo frequently accusing Markey of accepting contributions from developers and business interests whose projects he supported.

Parks’ and Del Campo’s campaigns were closely linked. The two candidates sent joint fliers and mailers, and they both signed a pledge vowing not to approve projects that violated the city’s General Plan. They were vocal critics of the council majority.

With 18,685 votes, Parks was the top vote-getter. She was followed by incumbent Markey with 13,711 votes. Del Campo garnered 11,199 votes, representing 16% of the city’s voters.

Del Campo said a seat on the commission would be a good opportunity to represent the residents who voted for him.

“I seriously hope they do not look at this as a political football,” he said. “I believe many of the voters think I have a good voice to give to them. I have an open mind.”

Del Campo said that he would be fair and listen to concerns of developers and residents alike.

But Lazar questioned Del Campo’s ability to do just that.

“I think a planning commissioner has to come in with an open mind,” Lazar said. “I think [Del Campo] has got his mind made up on a lot of issues. That is a problem for a planning commissioner. I will have to think about this one.”

Lazar admitted that nominees to the Planning Commission are usually confirmed.

“Normally I don’t think I would have any objections about anyone being nominated,” Lazar said. “But you expect council members to nominate people who are reasonable and open-minded.” Parks, who interviewed about 10 applicants for the post, said Del Campo, a 48-year-old marketing consultant who has lived in Thousand Oaks for 18 years, shares her slow-growth philosophy and has taken an active role getting involved in issues that matter to the city.

Besides running for a seat on the council, Del Campo has been a frequent speaker at council and Planning Commission meetings, Parks said.

Parks said it would be inappropriate for Fox, or others on the council, not to confirm Del Campo particularly if it was for political reasons. Fox’s own appointee to the commission, Ronald Polanski, is also playing politics, she said.

Polanski is actively involved in the recall effort against Zeanah, Parks’ only ally on the council.

What would happen if Del Campo was not confirmed?

“I’d rather not have to think about that,” Parks said. “I’d rather keep hoping that things will go as they should go.”

She later added: “There are other great people that I would be happy to have on the Planning Commission.”