DEBATING THE ISSUES-From left to right are eight of this year's City Council candidates who are hoping to be elected to office on Nov. 7: Andy Fox, Louis Masry, John DiGuiseppe, Bob Wilson, Dennis Gillette, Elaine McKearn, Jerry Goldman and Janet Wall. They were together last week for the first time as a group at the first public forum. It was held at Vallecito Mobile Home Park. Eight of the nine City Council candidates gathered at the Vallecito Mobile Home Park in Newbury Park last week for the first candidate forum of this election season. Participating were Andrew Fox, Louis Masry, John Glenn DiGuiseppe, Bob WilsonDennis Gillette, Elaine McKearnJerry Goldman and Janet Wall.

Attendees at the forum numbered about 120. Most were mobile home park residents hoping to hear something definitive about their future, concerned that some developers in Thousand Oaks eye mobile home parks as prime sites to build something more profitable.

"I'm here to see if they are for mobile home parks rights or not," Ida Husk said.

Mobile home park residents own their homes but not the land they stand on. For use of the space, they pay rent that is oftentimes controlled by rent stabilization. This contributes to more affordable housing in the area for many seniors and other mobile home residents, but as real estate values increase so can the desire of mobile home park owners to make profits like other landowners.

"The candidate that helps us is the one I'll vote for," Jayne Humphry said.

She and the others had two hours to listen to the candidates during the Sept. 20 forum moderated by the League of Women Voters, during which the candidates mostly concentrated on introducing themselves, their views and goals as required by a set program.

Candidate and planning commission chairperson Wall introduced herself as a 33-year resident who became involved in city politics when she saw developers building on property next to her home and realized they were cutting down oak trees that were to be transplanted and bulldozing streambeds that were not supposed to be disturbed.

"On the planning commission I examine every case thoroughly, I listen to the public and I understand their vision," Wall said.

Businessman Goldman said he would donate his City Council salary to charity and dedicate himself to the job. He currently gives more than 100 hours of volunteer work a month. Most of that volunteer work is done to help police, fire officials and the city prepare for disasters and improve emergency communication capabilities. He's been a city resident more than 25 years and is for open space protection, he said.

"I'm here to give back to my community. I work well with everybody and I build bridges," Goldman said.

After growing up in Indiana, traveling the world for her Department of Defense duties and with her military husband, Elaine McKearn settled in Thousand Oaks 20 years ago to raise her five children. She's served the community in many areas, including the school board, Special Olympics and Chamber of Commerce. She's taught and volunteered at St. Paschal Baylon Church and Toastmasters International and is an active member of the Republican Party.

"I've been everywhere, and Thousand Oaks is the best. I know what's good and bad and I'm willing to listen to you," McKearn said.

Gillette spent 25 years with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and served as the Thousand Oaks police chief before being elected in 1987 as director of the Conejo Recreation and Park District. He's been elected to the City Council twice and said he's invested a lot of his life in Thousand Oaks. So has his wife, Terry, a retired English teacher who taught in the Conejo Valley Unified School District for 35 years.

"For 43 years I've tried to serve the community and I hope to continue. It's pretty hard to find anything wrong with this city-except during an election," Gillette said.

Former Mayor Bob Wilson, owner of Cisco's restaurant, has been a resident for more than 30 years, has six children and has served as a volunteer in many organizations, including the Boy Scouts. His wife, Linda, is a Rotarian and president of the local American Heart Association. "I wouldn't be running if there were only two openings on the City Council because Andy Fox and Dennis Gillette have been running this city fantastically," Wilson said.

Former Long Island, N. Y. resident DiGuiseppe, whose father retired from the New York Police Department, has been instrumental in organizing events and groups to keep neighborhoods safe in Thousand Oaks, where he's lived for 16 years. The financial consultant is a member of the Rotary Club, the Alliance for the Arts and a Chamber member.

"I'll have an open-door policy so I can hear the concerns of the community. I'll treat everyone equally and fairly-your concerns are my concerns," DiGuiseppe said.

Candidate Masry worked side by side with his father, the late Councilmember Ed Masry. He was his father's campaign manager, is on the Chamber board, has served on the floor of the New York City Stock Exchange, raises money for charities and, like his father, doesn't want to see Thousand Oaks turn into the densely populated San Fernando Valley, he said.

"I am a very proud son and I hope to carry on the legacy and traditions of the Masry family," he said.

Fox has been a council member for the past 12 years and has been a resident for 24 years. He's a deputy chief with the Los Angeles Fire Department. Coaching and other activities with his four children help him stay connected with the community, he said. Labor negotiations experience at LAFD helps him work with labor relations within the city, he said.

"I'm proud of the record we've established-safest city, award-winning schools, worldclass parks-one of the best cit

es in the state if not the United States, and it's an honor to serve you," Fox said.

Claudia Bill-de la Pea did not attend the forum because she

was out of town on a trip planned before the forum was scheduled. She arranged to meet with the mobile home park residents at another time.