SIMI VALLEY : Chamber Endorses Local Candidates

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, representing almost 800 local businesses, has endorsed the mayor in his reelection bid, along with three candidates for City Council and three school board candidates.

The chamber endorsed six-year incumbent Mayor Greg Stratton, director of software engineering at Teledyne Systems in Northridge. Three other candidates are campaigning for his post in the Nov. 3 election.

Chamber officials praised Stratton’s “responsiveness to business issues” and his role in countering the negative publicity that the city received in the wake of the Rodney G. King beating trial verdict.

In a separate race for two seats on the City Council, the chamber supported incumbent Councilman Bill Davis, a retired electronic repair shop owner; Cheryl Carrillo, a real estate agent and respiratory therapist; and Barbara Williamson, vice president of Simi Valley Bank.

In a written statement, chamber President Gayle Ward said the three council candidates each have “a keen understanding of city government, and business and economic issues.”

In the race for seats on the Simi Valley Unified School District Board of Education, the chamber endorsed incumbent Judy Barry and candidates Jim King and Jacquie Richardson.

All candidates were asked to fill out questionnaires and submit to interviews by the chamber board. Those candidates who were supported by two-thirds of the board received endorsements.