Paul Miller Election Day brought no change to the Simi Valley City Council, as all incumbents were successful in securing their seats for another term.

Paul Miller won a landslide victory over candidates Bruce Witkin and Ed Lang in the race for mayor. Miller, challenged for the first time as head of the council, captured about 79 percent of the vote, with 29,599 ballots cast in his favor.

"I'm happy to be able to continue working for the citizens of the city," Miller said Wednesday. "I'm honored that they've decided to send me back to office."

Witkin, a small-business owner, garnered about 13 percent of the vote, and Lang, a substitute teacher, trailed with about 7.5 percent. The challengers received 5,001 and 2,811 votes respectively.

Council incumbents Barbra Williamson and Steve Sojka also defeated their competition to keep the current board intact.

Sojka was the top vote-getter with 21,045 votes, or about 36 percent of the ballots cast.

"I'm extremely honored to be the top vote-getter out of six people," Sojka said. "Every time you go through an election process, it kind of validates if people support you or not."

Steve Sojka Williamson, the longeststanding member of the council, came in second, with 17,074 votes, or 29 percent.

"I think it speaks volumes that the community is happy with the direction the City Council is going," Williamson said.

Los Angeles Police officer Mike Judge performed the best out of the council members' four challengers, earning 10,128 votes.

Judge said he felt gratified by his performance, but was disappointed that he didn't do better.

"I thought it would be tighter because people were looking for a change," said Judge, who told the Simi Valley Acorn he plans to run again. "I think the main reason I didn't win is because I didn't get enough name recognition out there and that takes money."

Dan Jenkins came in next with 5,043 votes, or about 8.5 percent.

Rounding out the list of challengers were Gerald Smith, collecting almost 6 percent (3,433 votes), and Richard Paul Carter, with just over 3 percent (1,939) of the votes cast in his favor.

Barbra Williamson Sojka said he respects the challengers for getting involved "because ultimately they just wanted to make Simi Valley a better place."

Looking toward the future, the three incumbents all said the economy and the state's budget pose a threat to the quality of life Simi residents enjoy but that they would work hard to maintain the level of city services.

"I think the next two years are going to be kind of bumpy," Miller said.

For more information on the county's election results, visit recorder.countyofventura.org/ Election%20Result.htm. Vote count breakdown
Mayor
Paul Miller 29,599
Bruce Witkin 5,001
Ed Lang 2,811
Total votes cast: 37,630
City Council
Votes
Votes
Steve Sojka 21,045
Barbra Williamson 17,074
Michael Judge 10,128
Daniel R. Jenkins 5,043
Gerald Smith 3,433
Richard Carter 1,939
Total votes cast: 58,839
bold = elected