What happened to challengers coming out and clearly outlining new ideas, with details and with anticipated results? In the Fourth District Ventura County Supervisor's race, so far we have seen only foggy statements from newcomers of what they support. Let's face it, all candidates support public safety, improved traffic flow and, of course, "reform."

One challenger, Jim Dantona, has been running a slick, underground campaign since late last year. He offers brief statements of what he sees as his accomplishments, like the Rail Summit in the early 1990s, but few details, like actual results from that "summit." That's because the Rail Summit resulted in nothing.

We can all understand why this is being done. It is very hard to run on a history of a liberal Democrat against a proven conservative Republican in this district. He has to hide his relationship to Gray Davis.

So he has to create lots of other things to talk about.

Judy Mikels for years has been a fiscal watchdog over finances for county government, which now enjoys the healthiest budget in its history. Judy Mikels opened the East County Safe Harbor, so victims of sexual abuse and assault can be treated here in Simi Valley and avoid an agonizing drive in a police cruiser to Ventura. That's results that you can talk about.

Don't be fooled by the slick advertising and fuzzy claims. Vote to reelect Judy Mikels in June. Ede Stratton Simi Valley