VENTURA, OJAI : Lacey Announces Reelection Bid

Longtime Supervisor Susan K. Lacey announced Tuesday that she will seek a fifth term representing the Ventura and Ojai areas on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

She joins Ventura Councilman Jim Monahan as the only candidates yet to emerge in the 1st Supervisorial District race, which will be decided next March.

“First we have to get through this budget and get us through in as good shape as possible,” said Lacey, 53. “Then I’d like to continue a lot of the things I’ve been working on over the years--children’s and youth projects.”

Supervisors must pare $19 million from the county budget during hearings this summer. Lacey said some programs are certain to be cut because of increases in public-safety budgets mandated by Proposition 172.

“There are people who are going to lose services,” she said. “I don’t see how we save them all.”

Lacey said she would try to pay special attention to the county Library Services Agency, but could make no promises. “There are a lot of really major decisions coming down the road,” she said.

First elected in 1980 after serving seven years on the Ventura Unified School District Board of Trustees, Lacey expressed confidence that voters will elect her to a fifth term.

“I take every election very seriously,” she said. “You do the best job you can, you go out and meet and talk to people, and then they cast a vote.”

Lacey said she has never spent more than $45,000 on a campaign and does not expect to exceed that total this year. She is planning a campaign kickoff party Sunday afternoon at a supporter’s home in Ventura.