Ojai Mayor, Daddi, Lara Vie For Two Council Seats
Thursday, September 20, 2012
By Tiobe Barron
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series that examines several 2012 election races in and around the Ojai Valley. The first appeared in the Sept. 14 issue.
In November, Ojai’s Mayor, Betsy Clapp, will face two challengers — State Farm agent Bob Daddi and local business owner Severo Lara — in the race for two open positions on the Ojai City Council. Councilmember Sue Horgan, the only other Councilmember whose terms is up, opted not to run for reelection this year.
The Ojai City Council consists of five members whose job it is to create the ordinances and resolutions that govern those within the city of Ojai. They also adopt the city budget, apportion spending among the city’s departments, appoint the city manager and the city attorney and elect amongst themselves the Mayor and Mayor pro tem of Ojai.
Betsy Clapp
Clapp has lived in Ojai for 22 years, before which she lived with her husband and daughter on a boat in the Ventura Harbor. Clapp says she loves Ojai because it reminds her of the small town in which she was raised.
“Ojai is a treasure and it needs to be protected,” said Clapp.
Clapp owns and operates two small businesses: Java Frost, a gourmet beverage distribution company; and Buenaventura Blending Company, a private labeling and manufacturing company. Clapp says her experience as a small-business owner equips her with the skills to get things done in government.
“I am action-oriented, and have follow-though,” explained Clapp. “If you don’t get things done in a small business, the business dies.”
Clapp said her main goals, if elected, would be to support the efforts of Ojai Friends of Locally Owned Water (F.L.O.W.), to help reorganize the Ojai Recreation Department and to improve code enforcement in the city.
“There is the sentiment among Ojai citizens that it (code enforcement) is not working,” Clapp noted. “Right now it is complaint-driven, which is pitting neighbor against neighbor, which is not a good thing!”
Clapp wants to work with Ventura County agencies to establish a county recreation district; something she believes will greatly improve the caliber of programs available to youth in the valley.
Along with these goals, emergency preparedness is also a priority; Clapp aims to complete Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training after the election. She said she also believes community outreach should be a top priority for local government officials.
“We need to be open and welcoming to the community,” said Clapp. “After all, it is the citizens’ city.”
Bob Daddi
Daddi has lived in Ojai since 1997, when he built his home here. While he said he takes no issue with any member of the current City Council, he believes, as a collective group, the current council has “failed to take care of some issues … I want to restore Ojai to the vibrant place it used to be 15 to 20 years ago,” Daddi said. “It used to be magic.”
Daddi’s main concerns are the issue of the water franchise in Ojai — he’s one of the founders of Ojai FLOW and is on its steering committee — as well as road repair, code enforcement and what he sees as a lack of transparency and consistency in the Community Development Department.
“People should vote for me because I am informed on the (pertinent) subjects,” explained Daddi. “I won’t tolerate sloppy work from the city, I won’t tolerate incorrect and inconsistent city work. I won’t tolerate the fact that we can’t refund an over-charge because of a time limit. I won’t tolerate different (discriminatory) treatment.”
Daddi said he was driven to run in this election due to “the fact that we weren’t getting to where we needed to be; we kept kicking the issue down the street … a different kind of candidate is needed to break this gridlock.”
If elected, Daddi said he will bring a more fair and equitable policy to the table, with an emphasis on health and safety.
“If I am elected, I will force the city to deal with the 500 non-permitted, occupied residential units. We can’t displace 500 families and have not established a policy a Health and Safety exemption permit,” Daddi insists.
Severo Lara
Lara was born in Ventura County Memorial Hospital, and has lived in Ojai his whole life. He is a youth founder of the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and is a building contractor. He has experience working in municipal government as a member of the Ojai Recreation Commission.
“I grew up in this valley, so I truly understand its values and principles,” said Lara. “The principles the valley holds, I hold.”
If elected, Lara’s top priority would be the quality of life for families in the valley, beginning with programs for youth, and making permits affordable so young families can live here.
“One of the areas we have been putting off for years is the Parks and Recreation Department,” Lara says. “It’s not the city’s fault, but the times have changed. I want to re-establish the integrity of the department. That would be great.”
Lara, who has two daughters, ages 3 and 6, said he wants to be involved so his kids can have the same opportunities he had growing up.
“I’ve always been involved. I really care about what happens here,” says Lara. “I bring a perspective that has been here (in Ojai), and it is important to have that on Council.”
Visit www.ci.ojai.ca.us for more information on the upcoming election.
I grew up running Nordhoff Cross Country with Severo, and saw the great work he did with the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation. He is definitely a man wiser than his years, and has been a leader for a long time. The words that come to mind when I think of Severo are hard work, love for community, and creativity. Helping Severo have a voice in important community decisions would have an amazing effect on the family-friendliness and youth-friendliness of Ojai… something we sorely need!
Daddi talks… And talks and talks and talks and talks… Unfortunately, he has never learned the skill of listenining. I want people working for me who listen. Daddi is all mouth …
Watch the City Council meetings to see Clapp’s performance. It is inconsistent at best and really odd at its worst. Bob Daddi is just plain arrogant. From what I have heard, he called by Lara and told him not to run. I don’t know Lara but seems to have the least to prove and to be the most sincere of the three. Like the US Presidental election, it’s a shame this is who we have to pick from….I will miss Sue Horgan’s brains and professionalism, that’s for sure!
Down with Clap! Vote BOB DADDI
I definetly think this is an important vote. We don’t want to vote in someone who could be swayed by a little extra ca$h on the side. We need someone who truly wants the best for Ojai, someone who lives here and who has lived here most their lives. Someone who will try to keep Ojai true to its beginnings and not turn it into a giant high tech commune or pack in as many people as will fit. SOmeone who would encourage projects that favor things for kids and familys like a public swimming pool.
The Democratic Club just might be wrong this time
I say vote for the local guy, Lara I feel has a good understanding to what we need in the valley and is ready to throw the gloves off and get his hands in the fertilizer of local politics. Daddi is a Insurance mongrel who is looking out for him self, I bet he insures the skate park. He is paying high water costs too, he has a vineyard on his property, but all who are under the hand of the Golden State water Co. are getting hosed!!!!
WHere are the usual Ojains? I would like to hear the twobits from Tdubs, OjaiResident, justhefacts, Ojaiguy, really, Ojaifamily, Larry of Oakview, Ojai Gal, even though Larry of OakView isn’t from Ojai, his views still matter.
The “usual Ojaians” are probably brain-dead from the heat.
Nope Larry just got back from cooling off in Alaska for three weeks.
Also, even though Larry is living in Oak View, Larry is for sure FROM Ojai–born in Santa Paula because Ojai had no hospital in the early 50′s. Grew up in town and graduated from Nordhoff! Clapp represents for me the true spirit of Ojai as I view it and she works hard. Hats off to any serious candidate that wants to better the town.
Aha! Cooling off in Alaska are you Larry? Hunting? Panning for gold? Fishing? Sightseeing? I’m afraid to leave home, afraid no one will care for my plants like I do. Fortunetly, I think the long, super hot heat waves are over. Even if we get another heat wave , nights should be pleasant. Thanks for your two-bits! I was also thinking Betsy Clapp.
Thanks A.O.O., actually Larry sleeps a lot and has his phone turned off. No computers. No one knows where he is. A true vacation after a year of being on call, dealing with cretins, criminals and the partially or fully insane. Larry let his lawn die and has only cactus. It’s the only way to go anymore! Now, refreshed, back to the fray.
Larry is hilarious!
Well I for one feel someone like Lara is the best choice. I am tired of the politics and want to get back to basics. An everyday guy with strong values and an interest in our community. I am sure he would be a strong advocate for everyone and stand up for what is right.
The Ojai Valley Democratic Club voted at their September 17, 2012 general meeting to endorse Betsy Clapp and Bob Daddi. Severo Lara will have his time but he needs a lot more under his belt than just serving on the Rec. Committee to compete with Clapp and Daddi.
If Bob Daddi leans on 500 landlords, then rents will go up, people will leave, there will be more unoccupied homes in Ojai, and less business in our stores.
There’s a lot that Bob won’t tolerate about tolerant Ojai. I think Ojai should not tolerate Bob as a city council member.
Severo Lara is an excellent candidate. He has a good education and has returned to Ojai to serve the people of our city and to listen to their needs.
Bob Daddi is a tireless advocate for the people of Ojai and has helped bring the Skate park to realization, he is helping get rid of Golden State Water, and he will clean up the City building department. He is a bulldog and exactly what we need on the Ojai City Council. Vote for Bob Daddi!
Without a doubt, Betsy Clapp HAS not ridden the political carousel. She has shown consistent leadership that has lead Ojai forward. She gets things done and listens. We are lucky to have her.
Severo Lara is perfect candidate for Ojai City Council. Everybody else is steady riding a political carousel. Get off the horse people, its time for who Ojai really raised to step in.