The city council will hear from voters in November

After speaking at city council meetings and addressing the process on how to handle the vacancy of a councilmember in the future and reading several letters to the editor and editorials since these meetings, I feel that it is appropriate to address the undemocratic appointment of my father's seat and how future appointments should be handled.

First of all my family will always stand up for democracy. It is a shame that democracy was not able to take its course when my father passed away.

Councilmember Andy Fox has said that it was an "emotional plea" by the family. Unfortunately for Councilmember Fox, my father was alive at the time the decision was made and was appalled by the decision. Anyone that knows our family knows that we stand up for what we believe in regardless of our emotions or those emotions of the people around us.

The one thing that will never get in the way of our family's decisions is egos. Our family has worked very hard for what we have and we are very fortunate to be able to give back in the way that we do. Egos got in the way when my father's seat was handed out without a vote of the people.

Councilmembers Andy Fox, Dennis Gillette and Jacqui Irwin's decision was wrong and they let their own egos and personal agendas get in the way.

As we move forward into the November city council election, the residents of Thousand Oaks will know which candidate puts the people ahead of themselves.

As many residents are aware I have announced that I am running for city council in November. Some of my opponents will call it an emotional decision. I have thought long and hard about my decision. My father always wanted me to run for his seat when he retired from council.

Unfortunately my father passed away before he could serve the remaining three years of his term.

Future seats should be handled by the vote of the people especially when there are three years remaining on a seat. We all know that a bad decision was made by the city council to appoint my father's seat. My father always taught me that you always need to learn from the past and look ahead. Our family has learned from some of the decisions that have been made.

As we move closer to the November election I suggest that the residents of our great city look at who have been the real leaders versus the politicians. You must be a leader first when you make decisions. I am very proud to be like my father and share in many of the same ideas as my father.

I was his chief of staff, campaign manager, political advisor, and most of all, a very proud son.

Emotions will not play a part in the upcoming elections. What will play a part is past performance, ethics and moral standards, just to name a few. The residents of Thousand Oaks were snubbed before but they will have a chance at democracy this time around. Louis Masry Thousand Oaks