Mike Judge This is the second in a series of profiles on the individuals seeking local office. The order in which the profiles will appear was determined randomly.

Mike Judge isn’t your typical politician.

That is to say, most candidates for office don’t host trap-shooting fundraisers, inviting supporters to fire rounds at clay birds soaring through the air.

Then again, the 47-year-old Simi native isn’t a politician at all. He’s a cop.

While the Alamo Street station isn’t his office, the 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department knows exactly what it’s like to walk in an officer’s shoes.

That’s why looking out for local law enforcement’s best interests and getting Simi Valley back on top as the safest city in America are the main reasons he’s running for City Council.

But Judge is no rookie. He’s vied for a council seat once before.

“I don’t think anything’s changed since when I ran in 2008. We still have the same problems here in Simi,” he said.

When Judge ran two years ago, he finished third, securing the most votes of any challenger. He learned a few lessons that first time out and has re-entered the game with what he believes is a stronger, more professional campaign.

He’s perhaps a bit more confident in his prospects, too, saying he “guarantees” that at least one incumbent will lose.

Russ Graybill, an LAPD sergeant and Simi resident who’s known Judge for two decades, said his friend is clearly up front with his opinions, but Judge is also a good listener and not afraid to admit when he’s wrong.

“What makes him a good candidate (is) . . . he has a huge heart for Simi,” Graybill said. “He believes in the families and the small businesses here in town. He has common sense. It seems our government hasn’t used common sense in a while.”

Judge grew up in Simi, graduating from Simi High in 1981 before joining the Army, where he served four years on active duty and 12 years in the reserves.

Today, the father of three with his wife, Sarit, works as the assistant training coordinator for the Devonshire Community Police Station in Northridge. There, he organizes and leads refresher training courses for his fellow officers.

He also sits on the executive board of Neighborhood Council No. 3, although city rules forced him to take a leave of absence until after the election.

For Judge, public safety is paramount. But in order for Simi to reclaim its safest city ranking, he said, it must support its cops 110 percent—not cut their pay and benefits or try to break their union.

“To get there, you have to have a motivated police department, you have to have a citizenry that cooperates and works closely with the police department to curtail crime,” he said. “If you’ve got a pissed-off bunch of cops, they’re going to be more concerned with looking for another job than doing their job here.”

Judge has strong feelings regarding last year’s contentious contract negotiations between the Police Officers Association and the city. He believes the city took too harsh a stance and used the poor economy as an excuse to treat the union unfairly, asking them to give up more than the city’s other employee groups.

But Judge doesn’t care only about his own. He’s also concerned with the way existing and potential businesses are treated, after hearing stories from people who’ve had difficulty opening up or expanding shop in Simi.

He’d like to see the city become more business-friendly by streamlining the process, clearly letting applicants know what’s expected and giving them greater flexibility when it comes to where they can open their business.

If elected, Judge said, he would actively reach out to prospective businesses and sell them on moving to Simi.

“All we’re doing is watching businesses leave, and I don’t see anything really thriving. Maybe I’m not just looking hard enough but everybody I talk to is hurting,” he said, adding that he’s anxious to see the long-vacant Mervyns get filled and a new tenant found for the Farmers Insurance building.

While he’s in favor of helping struggling businesses—such as offering a break on business taxes or the cost of utilities to those shops that will be impacted by Farmers’ exodus—he’s not as keen on “wasting a lot of money” on programs like Shop Simi Valley First or the new business advocate. And he doesn’t think the city should lend money to small businesses via the new revolving business loan program.

Another excess? Council pensions. Judge said the first time he ran he didn’t realize how “lucrative” the benefits package is. He’s promised that, if he’s elected, he won’t take the medical, dental or pension benefits, saying he doesn’t need it and the perks are “way out of balance for a part-time employee.”

A proponent of term limits, Judge said the bottom line is the council needs a “fresh opinion.”

“This isn’t supposed to be your career, working for City Council in Simi Valley. . . . And if you’re not being effective, and in my mind I don’t think they are, then it’s time to go.”