Al Adam Al Adam, a 30-year resident of Thousand Oaks, is running for a City Council seat to protect the quality of life in the city he loves, he said.

He would like Thousand Oaks Boulevard to be revitalized but doesn't want to see tall buildings lining the thoroughfare. A plan to allow greater building heights is expected to be presented to the City Council by the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Association after the election.

He cited a survey in 2004 that found that 60 percent of residents wanted beautification for Thousand Oaks Boulevard. But they don't want, he said, four and fivestory buildings as proposed or the traffic and air pollution that would accompany them.

"I'd like the improvements on Thousand Oaks Boulevard to be an open and transparent process with community input," Adam said.

He also hopes residents will understand the wisdom of electing someone with financial knowhow. He's been a financial adviser for 29 years.

"Now you have to look more closely at the City Council's consent calendar to see where the city's spending money," he said.

Adam questioned the wisdom of the city spending more than $100,000 last year on the day laborer site, millions of dollars for upgrades for the Civic Arts Plaza and pay raises for the city manager and city attorney.

He said the city could be one of the biggest customers in town if it would buy locally. He also suggested the city keep its money in local community banks, within FDIC limits.

"It's a big circle. The money would go right back to the city," Adam said.

He expressed concerns about the impact a Home Depot store on Hampshire Road would have.

Adam was appointed to the planning commission two years ago by Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña.

He has also served on the county Save OpenSpace and Agricultural Resources, the local YMCA board of governors and the Civic Arts Plaza board of governors.

Adam has a bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University. He'd like to serve on the City Council because he has the background, skills and education to get the city through tough budget decisions and uncertain times, he said.

He also has a great desire to keep the city safe and appealing, he said. He and his wife, Marilyn, are raising their 10-year-old twin daughters in Thousand Oaks. His parents, Carol and Al Adam, have also lived in the city for decades.

"I'm concerned about overdevelopment," Adam said.

Though the city is almost at build-out, the infill projects could still cut into slopes, build high and destroy oak trees, he said.

He foresees a threat to local businesses, "the backbone of Thousand Oaks, who don't need to be pushed out."