District I council candidates say Simi ‘can do better’

Four candidates competing for the Simi Valley City Council's District 1 seat made their case to voters this month, agreeing on one broad theme — that the city "can do better" — while staking out their positions on development, public safety, the struggling Simi Valley Town Center and how City Hall spends taxpayer money.

The candidates appeared at a League of Women Voters forum held Oct. 6 at City Hall, coverage of which was reported by the Simi Valley Acorn. The election is set for November.

District 1 covers the northern quadrant of Simi Valley, sitting above the 118 Freeway and stretching between Rocky Peak on the east and the city boundary on the west.

The Race and Its Backstory

The contest features incumbent Joseph Ayala, who was appointed to the seat in February 2025 after then-Councilmember Dee Dee Cavanaugh became mayor. Cavanaugh assumed the mayor's role following the death of Mayor Fred Thomas. Ayala now faces three challengers: Jill Abele, Anthony Thompson and Todd Taylor.

The seat itself is a product of Simi Valley's shift to district-based council elections, under which residents vote by geographic district rather than citywide — a change that has reshaped local politics in cities across California in recent years.

The Incumbent: Joseph Ayala

Ayala, 52, pointed to a career as the director of a multibillion-dollar data analytics company, where he leads an international team and manages budgets. He has also taught at CSU Northridge for 11 years, an experience he said keeps him connected to younger residents worried about affording a home.

"I hear from students about their career aspirations and the challenge of affording a home," Ayala said, according to the Acorn, adding that he wants to attract employers, fill empty storefronts and advance industrial development in the city.

Ayala's community résumé includes a board seat with the Simi Valley Education Foundation and more than a decade of volunteering with the police department and Rotary, as well as work with the Special Olympics and Make-A-Wish. He framed those experiences as the foundation of his approach to governance.

"Leadership isn't having every answer before the question is asked," Ayala said. "It's having a process that people can trust when the unexpected happens."

On utilities, Ayala said Southern California Edison will continue public safety power shutoffs given the risks the utility faces. He supports microgrids but said he also worked with SCE to help seniors, people with disabilities and others obtain backup generators during outages.

On the long-troubled Town Center mall, Ayala said the property has cycled through multiple owners and repeated failures. "We know this community is not going to put up with it failing one more time, so we have to get it right," he said. He said the city's plan favors homeownership at the site rather than rentals, along with family-oriented entertainment venues so residents no longer have to leave town for activities.

On homelessness, Ayala said he has visited encampments, spent nights at churches alongside homeless individuals and helped serve breakfast. "We have to lead with compassion and say what can we do to really help them," he said, noting the council approved a backpack medicine program providing services to people experiencing homelessness and supports the Samaritan Center's plans for a transitional housing study.

Ayala also called for greater scrutiny of the city's Flock Safety license plate recognition system, saying there should be more accountability, transparency about alternatives and better reporting.

Challenger Jill Abele: "We Can Do Better"

Abele, 61, has lived in Simi Valley for 40 years and is a retired businessperson who managed large teams, multimimillion-dollar programs and budgets — experience she leaned on heavily at the forum.

"I want you to know that I'll assure your tax dollars are spent effectively," Abele said. "I think Simi Valley is a very special place to live … but I also believe we can do better."

She told attendees she hears residents' concerns about development, road and sidewalk conditions, and potential tax increases. "This election, you have an opportunity to bring new energy and accountability to City Hall, and that's why I'm running," Abele said. "Please, let's keep Simi Valley safe. Remember, experience matters."

Abele has volunteered with the American Heart Association, Rotary and Soroptimist, and is set to chair Leadership Simi Valley next year. On policy, she supports competitive police pay and stronger public safety partnerships.

Challengers Anthony Thompson and Todd Taylor also participated in the forum, according to the Acorn's coverage, tackling issues of growth and safety under the shared framing that the city can improve on its current course.

What's at Stake for Simi Valley Residents

The District 1 winner will help steer decisions on some of the most visible issues facing the city: the fate of the Town Center, which residents and officials alike have described as a make-or-break redevelopment; housing and employment growth; police staffing and compensation; power reliability amid Edison shutoffs; and the city's approach to homelessness.

The next council will also weigh oversight questions around surveillance technology like Flock Safety cameras, which have drawn debate in communities across the region over privacy and accountability.

Ballots for the November election will be mailed to registered voters across Ventura County, and District 1 residents can check their district and registration status through the county elections office.