Bill-de la Peña and Wall the best choices

Nine people are running for Thousand Oaks City Council. I watched them all at a candidates' forum last week.

All had good things to bring to the table--at least that's what they said. Candidates' voting record or platform and their body language tell a lot.

The only ones that really impressed me are the two woman running together, Claudia Bill-de la Peña and Janet Wall. They seem to be really for the residents.

Claudia Bill-de la Peña isn't only a council member and former mayor, she's the mother of little twin boys, and I read she works as an Emmy Awardwinning news writer.

She is composed, professional and doesn't seem to rest on her laurels simply because we live in a wonderful city. It takes courage to stand up against the pressures to overbuild this town. And right now, I'm sad to say, we have a council that is completely selfserving.

It is unfortunate to read that the county grand jury issued a critical report about the conduct of our other council members. A true public servant respects the citizens and values their input, not make deals behind the scenes.

Claudia Bill-de la Peña has served the city and its residents openly and selflessly. She was the only council member who stood up for us, the voters, last December, when Fox, Gillette and Irwin decided you shouldn't vote to fill the late Edward Masry's remaining three-year term.

Instead, they handpicked Councilmember Glancy, and now we have absolutely no balance on the council, just a prodevelopment super majority. Scary.

Janet Wall chairs the planning commission and she was the only commissioner out of five who recently voted against building (a large home in a wildlife corridor).

Remember, planning commissioners are appointed by individual council members. You see where the city is headed? Janet was appointed by Claudia. I am voting for Claudia and for Janet.

They have respectable endorsements, like Erin Brockovich, Linda Parks and the Masry family, and more importantly, they have what it takes to be strong leaders. Robin Rieger Thousand Oaks