Candidates clash over Triunfo board

Mike Paule As a member of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council, Mike Paule has had to learn quickly about issues affecting local residents, such as the availability of water.

Several years ago, the MAC vice chair began attending board meetings of the Triunfo Sanitation District, which provides potable water and sewer services for residents of Oak Park, North Ranch, Bell Canyon, Lake Sherwood and parts of the Westlake Village portion of Thousand Oaks.

"I have seen issues on the board that concern me, including how it's been managed from a business standpoint," said Paule, a 45-year-old Oak Park homeowner who joined the MAC in 2006.

His interest in water issues prompted him to run against longtime Triunfo incumbent Ron Stark, who's up for reelection on Nov. 4.

"I have all the respect in the world for Ron. He's done a lot of wonderful things for the community," Paule said. "But I think 28 years is enough. We need new ideas. Times change, and this is the season for change for a lot of reasons."

Ron Stark One of the main reasons Paule is running is to convert Triunfo from a partially to a fully elected board. Stark supports an allelected board, but by district; Paule seeks an allelected, atlarge body. Paule said an election of board members by district isn't allowed under current law.

"It's only logical and appropriate that all five people be elected," Paule said. "An allelected, at-large board is the only way people can truly elect people who will represent them to set the rates."

Paule earned a finance degree from Arizona State University and a master's degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Paule works as an information management consultant for a company he used to own but sold.

Triunfo contracts for management services with Ventura Regional Sanitation District. Both agencies share the same staff, which some believe is a conflict of interest.

"Sharing the same manager, legal counsel and auditors is a screwy way of doing business," Paule said. "My objective is to make sure the board is accountable, that there are good financial controls, that it runs consistent with how a successful business should be run. I'm not coming in and saying let's terminate all the relationships we have with everybody, but let's take a look at where we need more independence with how we do business."

In 2005, Paule earned an Edward L. Masry Integrity in Community Service Award.

Paule and his wife, Robin, moved from Calabasas to Oak Park in 1988. They have two daughters, Melissa, 18, and Kelsey, 13, who attends Oak Park High School.

Incumbent feels differently

Stark said he wants to see board members elected by geographical district so that each of the areas Triunfo serves is represented fairly.

"Oak Park is an active area, and I suspect that, at large, the majority of elected people would be from Oak Park," Stark said. "Thousand Oaks is against that because they want representation for their people. If we go at-large, Thousand Oaks has said it will break away from Triunfo and handle water through a different agency. If that happens, sanitation (costs) for Oak Park could double or triple."

Currently, two seats on the TSD board are elected and three are appointed.

Stark takes credit for obtaining the two elected seats nearly 30 years ago when Triunfo was run by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. He said the supervisors met monthly for 10 minutes before lunch to discuss Triunfo business. He thought the community deserved better, so he pushed for an elected board.

"The supervisors said, 'We'll give you two seats, one for Thousand Oaks and one for Oak Park.'"

Stark has served on the Triunfo board for 28 consecutive years.

Since moving to Oak Park in 1968 Stark's been involved in almost every aspect of the community's development. He helped establish the Oak Park School District, the Municipal Advisory Council, the Recreation and Park Advisory Board and the Community Foundation. He was recognized over the years with the Golden Acorn award, PTA awards and an Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce commendation.

"I'm very proud that I had a hand in making one of the best communities in the world," said Stark. "We have more parks per capita than any community in eastern Ventura County; our schools are top-notch, and it's a beautiful place to grow up in."

Stark also served on the MAC for 30 years before stepping down in 2006.

Stark acknowledges that Oak Park's water bills are among the highest in the area but said the rates are due to the purchase of the utility from the Metropolitan Development Corporation in the late 1990s. Once the bonds used for the purchase are retired in about eight years, the Oak Park water prices will drop, he said.

Stark said he understands hydraulics and engineering through his background as a test lab supervisor. He also has public policy experience, having served as a senior administrative aide to former Ventura County Supervisor Frank Schillo.

He and his wife, Penny, have three children and five grandchildren. Stark remains involved in Many Motors, a nonprofit group he formed that accepts donated cars for people needing transportation to work.