Over the last several weeks, I have read letters and editorials about the elections, in particular issues involving the posting of campaign signs on commercial properties without permission. I am here to tell you that this practice is not just limited to our local strip malls.

This morning I woke up and found that my house, and a dozen more along my street, were adorned with yard signs for Sojka. Our street is a thoroughfare to an elementary school with a lot of parents on their way to drop off the kids. Any candidate would love the visibility of our street covered in their support signs with a captive audience forced down a certain path five days a week.

We never requested his sign nor do we want it. He, or one of his staff, felt the need to place one in my yard without permission. A few of my neighbors were also quite upset by this unauthorized action. Our corrective measure was to place this litter that was left on our lawns in its proper place, our trash cans.

It now makes sense to me why Sojka or Becerra would not want to report their signs stolen because it would reveal how many illegal signs they just “throw out” there in hopes that some might stick.

I suppose the bigger issue is that while incumbents and their supporters complain how evil one candidate is to place unauthorized signs on commercial property, my personal residence, and many of my neighbors’, were defiled by these same complainers in direct violation of the city’s sign ordinance.

What’s Sojka’s next campaign tactic? Pirate bumper stickers on our cars while he continues to complain about the other candidate’s violation of the business community’s property rights? Just another shining example of the incumbents’ belief that they are above the rules of even common decency. This is almost as bad as when a stray dog relieves himself on my lawn, but at least the dog didn’t know he was violating a law; he was just being a dog.
David Cryingbear
Simi Valley

We’ll be electing a new Simi Valley mayor soon, and it is my observation that Steve Sojka simply makes things happen.

Sojka is a very dedicated, honest and hardworking individual for both our community and his family. He is experienced in his business as well as the city he works for.

I was aware of all of this before the election season, and I knew of a few things Sojka did on the City Council and for the community—but what I have learned in recent weeks convinces me that Steve Sojka would be the best choice for our next mayor.

I will try to list things not already touched upon in letters to the editor recently. How about being involved with going after (and ultimately getting) a $1.2- million grant to get computers in the police cars?

The newspapers reported recently that an $800,000 state grant was awarded to Simi to improve the Arroyo Simi. Sojka chaired the committee that worked for a year to qualify for this grant.

Sojka is the city’s representative on the Ventura County Transportation Commission, and he helped ensure that $65 million to finish the 118 Freeway widening project would come to Simi Valley as promised.

For recreation, Steve Sojka was insistent that bicycle lanes return to Simi Valley, and we see the results in bike lane improvements citywide. For aesthetics and community beautification, Sojka pushed for landscaping along the railroad tracks along Los Angeles Avenue. Remember how bad the train tracks used to look?

Sojka was involved with the creation of the Citizens Patrol to encourage residents to volunteer their time to help supplement police crime prevention. He was also involved in securing a location for a new field for the Vikings and Patriots youth football program.

I could go on, but the point is made. Steve Sojka makes things happen, and as our next mayor of Simi Valley he will continue to make things happen in a positive way for our future. I plan to vote for him, and you should too.
Susan Morrison
Simi Valley

Sharon Martin’s letter praising Steve Sojka walking in the Simi Valley Days Parade made me chuckle.

Does walking in a parade one time make you a leader? I don’t think so. I have been comparing the two candidates for mayor for a while now.

Bob Huber pledges to hold monthly town hall meetings. Steve Sojka has been there 12 years. He’s never held one town hall meeting or ever made mention of doing so.

I also noticed he just set up a Facebook page for this election about eight months ago. Facebook has been around since 2004.

I have a friend who told me they asked Sojka several times about the issue of getting cell reception in their area over the years. Sojka never got back to them to say it’s possible or not possible, just a non-response each and every time. Not getting back to someone on a concern asked several times is not being in touch with your voters.

I also noticed that Sojka endorses all of his fellow council members. They all rode in cars. What does that say about them? They are not in touch? In fact, if my memory serves me, Sojka has ridden and not walked in the prior parades. That is called a double standard.

Leadership and being in touch with people is more than walking in one parade.
Meagan Flores
Simi Valley

I write to suggest this for Simi Valley voters: Do your homework.

After doing some research on the candidates for mayor of Simi Valley, I have found definite contrasts, some small and some huge.

First, Steve Sojka was raised here in Simi Valley. Bob Huber was raised in Bakersfield.

Steve Sojka has served as our council member for 12 years, including as mayor pro tem in 2003 and 2007. Bob Huber served on the council for just one four-year term 30 years ago and soon thereafter began building up his law firm by representing developers in the building industry in matters before the City Council.

Steve Sojka was raised by a Simi Valley police chief and has served the past 12 years on the Simi Valley Police Foundation, including as its president in 2002. He has given thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of his time to improve public safety for Simi Valley. Bob Huber worked hard as an attorney to have numerous drunken driving cases thrown out, letting these drivers back on local streets without punishment.

Steve Sojka has helped improve facilities for our kids, such as Simi Youth Baseball, Vikings Football and Simi Valley Girls Softball. Bob Huber worked against a free public skate park to deny our Youth Council, who worked so hard on this, and our kids this amenity because his son is part owner of the private business Skatelab.

Steve Sojka has worked hard to bring millions of dollars to Simi Valley to improve our quality of life, such as the $300 million privately invested Simi Valley Town Center, $65 million for the freeway widening, the $2.5-million city-entrance Madera Road improvements and the $800,000 grant for the Arroyo improvements. Bob Huber filed a lawsuit against the city of Simi Valley for $5 million and lost, but it still cost the city $247,000 to defend it.

To me there is no comparison. Steve Sojka truly cares about Simi Valley and is working constantly to improve it and deserves our support to be Simi Valley’s next mayor.

He certainly has my family’s support.
Edward Perazzo
Simi Valley

For the first time in my memory, we have a seriously contested election for the mayor of Simi Valley. We have a chance to look at issues and compare candidates and make up our own minds about what kind of leadership we want.

What bothers me, though, are campaign letters in the local papers that attempt to ignore or marginalize issues and influence us with shallow imagery. Seriously, is the way an appearance is staged at the local parade really so important that it defines a candidate? I think not.

Are we supposed to make our choice for mayor based on the good things one candidate’s child does without even considering the good things the other candidates children have contributed?

This election is about leadership. Mr. Sojka has served as a council member for 12 years, and he proudly points us to all the good things that have happened in our city. I’m sure he helped influence some of them. I’m also sure that some happened without his help.

In his ad this week, he claims to have closed a $3-million to $5- million sales tax leakage with the opening of the Simi Valley Town Center. Funny how that project was approved before he even got appointed to the council.

On the other hand, Bob Huber has worked to bring issues before us. He raised these issues because he listened to people in town and heard what concerned them. He offered options to address issues before both the council and us, the voters. Whether we agree on each issue or not, the fact is that Mr. Huber asks us to look forward and Mr. Sojka continues to ask us to look backward.

I’m not going to waste my vote this year. I’m voting for Bob Huber.
Linda Latta
Simi Valley

I know it will never change, but I am so tired of the negative letters about this candidate versus that candidate; the huge, annoying signs posted legally and illegally on corners, buildings and sidewalks; and the he-said, shesaid statements that often veer widely from the truth.

There have been complaints about signs being stolen and a police sergeant on overtime, spending seven hours on stakeout only to find out a maintenance worker wasn’t told to leave the signs alone. Code enforcement lets one particular candidate place four or five signs within 20 feet of each other as if trying to smother the signs of his opponents. It looks trashy, but hey, it’s election time.

When I think of all the negative things I read about and hear, I am thankful that we have a newly widened section of the 118 Freeway, beautiful parks, a balanced budget and a council that refuses to respond to political rhetoric and negative attacks on their character and our city in general.

I shall be voting for our incumbents to continue the fine job they are doing and Steve Sojka for mayor of our city. If you enjoy living here as I do, remember the seated council we have give their all to keep it prospering the way it has been for the last 20 years.
Mary Evans
Simi Valley

I have lived in Simi Valley since 1967. I attended elementary, junior high and high school here, and after I graduated from college I wanted to settle down and raise my family here in my hometown.

Lately I’m surprised and disappointed by the letters and political ads accusing Bob Huber of exaggerating the seriousness of the potential landfill expansion in Simi Valley.

Some members of our City Council are trying to minimize the possibility of expansion and annexation of the landfill. Obviously it’s no big deal to them since they choose not to deal with it, but I highly disagree with their approach (or lack thereof). I’m proud of Bob Huber for standing up and calling for action.

The Ventura County Planning Commission meets to vote on this in January, and the Board of Supervisors casts their vote in March. In the last month or so our City Council decides it’s time to start meeting with the county. I’d say for a project of this magnitude, that has been talked about for over four years, they missed the boat. I’m glad Bob Huber is speaking out.

Is the annexation possible? I’m not an expert, but not to ask the question or look the other way is negligence for several reasons. First, the citizens of Simi Valley should have the say on the expansion, not the supervisors in Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura and Thousand Oaks. There is a reason Los Angeles County is shutting down their dumps. They don’t want the trash and toxic waste.

Second, if we do continue to take trash in Simi Valley or expand the landfill, we, the citizens of Simi Valley, should benefit from the income, not just the county of Ventura, since the landfill is in our backyard. We could use that money to pay for muchneeded services and build reserves in our city coffers.

Stop accusing Huber of politicking— that’s exactly what our council is doing. They are trying to deflect from their inaction. Bob Huber is speaking out and at least giving it a shot. You may or may not agree with him, but he is thinking, he has guts, and he is not afraid to take a stand on the landfill and many other issues he has championed. That is the type of leader I want for our mayor!
Cathy Dill-Olmsted
Simi Valley

Regarding the letters on Oct. 9 from the two widows supporting Bob Huber filing the lawsuit against the city of Simi Valley, while I sympathize with their position to back Huber’s opinion of the lawsuit he filed against the city, it does not justify that lawsuit. Nor does it present justification for the other nine lawsuits Bob Huber has filed (and lost) against the same city he wants to be mayor of.

Bob Huber, our former city councilman, has filed 10 lawsuits against the city of Simi Valley over the past 20 years, an average of two per year—including the case referenced in the Oct. 9 letters where a bicyclist lost his life in an unfortunate accident with a motorist. A jury did not believe there was any liability on the part of the city.

For the other lawsuits that Bob Huber filed against the city of Simi Valley over the past 20 years, the same conclusion was reached. He lost. They were unnecessary lawsuits that cost Simi Valley taxpayers who knows how many thousands of dollars to defend.

I’m saddened by the case referenced in the Oct. 9 letters where a bicyclist lost his life in an unfortunate accident with a motorist. To the widows—I, along with the members of our community, am terribly sorry for your loss.

The lawsuits Bob has launched, and lost, against our city have had nothing to do with anything to make Simi Valley a better place—they appear to have one purpose only—to enrich Bob Huber.

The changes to that roadway were planned before the mishap and would have happened regardless of whether or not the lawsuit was filed.

Take the proven and successful track record of our current Simi Valley leadership team, then compare it to the documented litigious history Bob Huber has against our city, and it becomes crystal clear—there is only one candidate involved and interested in improving the Simi Valley quality of life.

Bob Huber is not worth the risk. The city of Simi Valley cannot afford Bob Huber’s leadership.
Don Norris
Simi Valley

I get completely disgusted every time I read or hear a comment from our City Council or supporters of his opponent on “why Bob Huber hasn’t spoken out on this or that Simi Valley issue previously.”

We all understand having busy lives, and Bob Huber is no exception. In fact, I often wonder how he accomplishes as much as he does. He runs his practice, serves as chair of the board for our Ventura County colleges (which he must give up if elected mayor) and is the current chair of the board for our local Simi Valley Community Foundation, which runs the Treasure Hunter’s Boutique at the mall (proceeds go to charities in Simi Valley).

Now the City Council wants him to do their jobs too. Are you kidding me? Should he go to their houses and vacuum and do their dishes too? The City Council is being well-compensated to do a job; they should be doing it, not asking why Bob Huber or any other citizen is not doing their job for them.

Bob looked at some issues along with the fact the current mayor is not seeking reelection and decided to run for mayor. That’s what democracy is about.

Come to think of it, he has been doing their jobs lately with his suggestion of E-Verify and his suggestion of a Red Team to retain businesses in Simi Valley that the council passed in late August.

It seems to me they just don’t like a challenger and not having the market cornered in the upcoming election. The behavior and comments are illogical, rude and show a lack of character. I’m more convinced than ever it’s time for new leadership in our City Council.
Richard Gross
Simi Valley

I have been following the letters and articles in the Acorn regarding the upcoming mayor’s race and find myself needing to address a continuing topic that really shouldn’t even be one.

First, Mr. Huber and his supporters were making an issue out of when the campaign signs should be placed around town, and what a great thing he was doing for the community by not putting his signs up as soon as they are allowed by law, even though every candidate, state and local already had signs up.

Now there is an even larger issue being made over the disappearance of Huber campaign signs, when in fact Steve Sojka and Glen Becerra have both stated that they have also had signs disappear.

And I’m sure other candidates, as well as general contractors, landscapers and anyone else who has used a lawn sign for promotional use, has had them disappear. Are Mr. Huber and his supporters really making a campaign issue over campaign signs? Really? With all the other things going on in our community this is really what you are worried about?

Since Simi Valley Police Department was on the local news requesting that citizens watch the many vacant homes in our community because of the increasing number of them being vandalized and robbed, maybe a stakeout on some vacant homes would have been a better use of police resources than having a stakeout on your $65 campaign sign.

Mr. Huber and his supporters need to move on and stay focused on the real issues concerning our community. As a Steve Sojka supporter, I assure you we are not out stealing your signs. But for the first time I find myself compelled to place a campaign sign on my own lawn, one that says “Steve Sojka for Mayor.”
Heather Collins
Simi Valley

I am so proud that my dad, Bob Huber is running for mayor of Simi Valley.

My family has lived in Simi Valley since it was incorporated in 1969. At that time my dad was only 27 years old when he started his own business inside what is now the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. That is also where I grew up, as we lived there too.

He was named “Simi Valley Man of the Year” in 1970 by the Chamber of Commerce and never looked back. His opponent is a good guy and I really like him, but I honestly believe my dad is the most qualified man for the job, and he has been a proven leader.

He has successfully raised a family here in Simi Valley and has been a business owner in this awesome town since 1969, not to mention starting, chairing, donating and working with dozens of local programs, groups and organizations.

Please vote for Bob Huber in November 2010!
Todd Huber
Simi Valley

Marketing a person’s name during an election is understood, but nothing is more annoying than prerecorded telephone calls into your home.

These disruptive calls have been occurring for years with larger campaigns—you know, for Washington, D.C.- or Sacramentodriven campaigns.

To have them invade my home for a Simi Valley race is eye-opening. It is telltale about the differences between the candidates in that race. This is the race for mayor of Simi Valley—not for governor, not for Congress, not for some proposition. These so-called “robocalls” solidify why I will vote for Steve Sojka for mayor.

Steve Sojka walks neighborhoods himself, knocks on doors himself, walks the Simi Valley Days Parade himself, talks with Simi Valley residents himself. He does not record a message and “mail it in” by phone.

I do not want Sacramento or Washington, D.C. politics infecting my hometown.
Ginny Di Cecco
Simi Valley

For the first time in over 20 years Simi Valley residents have a choice in November as to who they want as their next mayor. This election is not about how much someone likes a particular candidate. It’s about choosing the most qualified candidate based upon knowledge and information, including public debates, past performance, community involvement, a history of consensus building, negotiation skills and endorsements.

They say “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In last Friday’s edition of the Acorn, Steve Sojka was proud to announce endorsements by former Simi Valley mayors Bill Davis and Ginger Gherardi.

Absent from those thousand words is the fact that Bill Davis is a paid consultant for Waste Management (Waste Management Newsletter December 2006, www.keepingventuracountyclean .com), the same Waste Management that our future mayor will have to negotiate with.

Hmmm . . . It’s no wonder Sojka has worked so hard to secure a $65-million freeway-widening project. How else could Simi Valley accommodate the additional garbage trucks from Los Angeles—side streets?

Ms. Gherardi happens to be the only Simi Valley mayor ever recalled in the history of the city. After her departure from Simi, Gherardi later became the subject of an investigation by the Ventura County District Attorney’s office regarding alleged misuse of funds while serving as director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (“A Public Report to the Ventura County Transportation Commission Use of Government Resources on Measure B Campaign.” Totten 2005).

With endorsements by those with potential conflicts of interests and others with questionable pasts, I’m sure a call to the city of Bell just might earn Sojka an endorsement by former Mayor Oscar Hernandez.

Since letters to the editor are limited in length, I cannot list all of the civic leaders, former mayors, assemblymen, congressmen, state senators, college trustees, Simi Valley school trustees, etc. who have given their support to Bob Huber. As such, I urge you to view Bob Huber’s complete list of supporters at www. huberformayor.com.
Skip Faria
Simi Valley

At the onset of this election process, I felt, knowing Bob Huber and Steve Sojka for many years, I would support both. Both have been gracious to me, and I consider each friends. That’s why my name has been seen backing both.

Growing up in Simi Valley after my family moved here in 1978, I came to know our great city and its abilities to rebel against what other communities have enveloped during their growing process. There will be mistakes and decisions we can look back and question. Mostly, Simi Valley has done extremely well, maintaining its beauty and small-town feeling during progress.

Many of us have seen historical pictures around town depicting Simi Valley’s early era with orchards and dirt roads. I wonder what the people of early Simi thought this place would become and what kind of people would lead it.

Today, we have many great community-oriented people here. People I have admired over the years are a long list of givers like Willa Dobbs, Bill Swink, the Paynes, McCormicks, Lansdens, Austels and so on.

I could go on, as this list is enormous. These people have cared about our community, and to them we owe many thanks. Included in this list must be Steve Sojka.

I have known Steve since we attended Valley View Junior High School together and then Simi Valley High School, where we played football together. Later he reappeared in my life as a Rotarian, where he opened my eyes to the community person he was becoming.

When Steve joined our City Council, he was the perfect person that I trusted to protect our community’s traditions. Steve has done a great job in the heated spotlight of hard economic times. In public service, you cannot keep everyone happy, and there always will be those who disagree.

But when I drive to work and see streets, buildings and the development of Simi Valley, I have to thank Steve for the part he played in its nurturing. I know the early people of Simi Valley would thank him as well.

To me, Steve represents a younger generation of leaders that has learned well from his predecessors. Steve spent his life being around that long list of Simi Valley caregivers, learning and developing his own visions for our great city. It’s my honor to endorse this great family man for mayor of Simi Valley.
David A. Sommer
Simi Valley

I am thrilled to see Bob Huber running for mayor of Simi Valley. I have known Bob Huber since I was a little girl. He has spent his entire life working for the betterment of society, most of it right here in Simi Valley.

Bob has chaired so many projects and organizations. They are too many to list, but here are some examples I remember.

Bob almost single-handedly organized the effort to defeat gambling from coming to Simi Valley in the 1970s. Thank goodness that was a success.

He chaired a much-needed school bond initiative for our schools in the 1980s. Bob was instrumental in securing the land for Simi Youth Baseball. Bob has headed up six different organizations starting in the ’70s to the present, serving as the chair or president.

Our local Community Foundation (which gives back to the free clinic and other charitable organizations) almost folded due to lack of fundraising until Bob came up with the idea of holding a mayor’s dinner, which has been a great success raising funds the past six years.

He received the Citizen of the Year award from the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Nordman Public Service award from the Ventura County Bar Association, both top honors from those organizations for leadership and dedication to our community.

Bob does everything from acting as a leader to rolling up his sleeves to work the Fourth of July fireworks show put on by his Rotary Club to spending a day painting a building for the YMCA. He is flexible enough to lead or dig in to do some of the hands-on work.

Most recently Bob has been speaking out to our City Council on E-Verify to save jobs and the Red Team to try to keep businesses from leaving Simi Valley. All of his ideas have been adopted by our City Council because he took the time to think outside the box and speak out.

I can tell you for sure that any organization or project Bob is involved with is a better place once he’s been there to lead the charge. I know without a doubt he would do the same for our city. I encourage you to vote for Bob on Nov. 2. Simi Valley will be a better place if he is our mayor.
Julie Knight
Simi Valley

While it’s been a bit of a challenge to sift through the candidates this election with all the mail and advertisements, something finally jumped out at me: The bottom of Steve Sojka’s ad in the Acorn on Oct. 15.

I was unaware how many people endorse Steve Sojka for mayor, representing so many different organizations. And it was not just one or two people; it was several leaders each from these organizations, from the Simi Valley Police Foundation, Simi Valley Education Foundation, Simi Valley School Board, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and many former City Council members and planning commissioners.

I don’t know why this jumped off the page, especially when the ad’s major focus was a big photo of four former Simi Valley mayors surrounding Sojka showing their support for his candidacy. I guess it just represents how many people have come to know Mr. Sojka over the years and respect him, and from such a broad representation of our community, from education to parks to a nonprofit organization that raises funds to supplement our police department’s great work.

It is not just two or three people, either. I think this is what most caught my eye. For example, underneath the police foundation heading, there are a dozen names listed in support of Steve Sojka for mayor, including the foundation’s president, vice president, treasurer and three past presidents.

Eleven people with the Simi Valley Education Foundation endorse Steve Sojka for mayor, including its president and four past presidents.

And the City Council list is eye-catching: former City Council member and former County Supervisor Vicky Howard, former City Council member and Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Nancy Bender, and Howard Rogo, one of the original members of the Simi Valley City Council.

Fancy campaign signs, slogans, photos, videos and ads are neat. But the list on this ad—plus the photo with all the mayors— was most impressive.
Linda Bodnar
Simi Valley