Stark faces reelection on Triunfo board

An incumbent on the fivemember Triunfo Sanitation District board of directors is up for reelection in November.

Longtime director Ron Stark's four-year term is up. He said he plans to run again.

Registered voters within Triunfo's district, which includes Oak Park, North Ranch, Bell Canyon, Lake Sherwood and parts of Thousand Oaks, are eligible to run.

Board members oversee an $18-million budget that provides water, sewer and reclaimed water to the communities served. Board members receive a $218 stipend for each meeting attended, as well as compensation for optional conferences and breakfast meetings.

Candidates may pick up applications at the Thousand Oaks office of Supervisor Linda Parks, the Ventura County Elections Division or the Ventura Regional Sanitation District. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Aug. 8 if Stark seeks reelection, Aug. 13 if he does not.

Stark's seat is one of only two on the board that is elected. The other three are appointed. The board has been split on the issue of becoming an all-elected board.

"I wish residents had a chance to vote for all the members of Triunfo Sanitation District because, as it stands, only two of the five members have to live in the area and are elected; the rest are appointed," Parks said.

Stark has served on the board for 24 years. An original resident of Oak Park, Stark also served for many years on the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council and said he has enjoyed his involvement in helping the community grow and develop.

"It's gratifying seeing people happy living here," Stark said.

Stark, who has an engineering background, said he works closely with the district's engineering staff. His goal for Triunfo is to keep costs down.

"We want to make sure people are getting the best system at the lowest cost," Stark said.