VENTURA : Mayor Makes Pitch to Wal-Mart Official

Ventura Mayor Greg Carson has written to Wal-Mart officials inviting the discount store to consider his city one month after Oxnard officials announced they were negotiating with the giant retailer.

But Oxnard officials said Tuesday that they were closing in on negotiations to bring a 146,000-square-foot Wal-Mart and a 134,000-square-foot Sam’s Club discount store to their city.

“The plans have been prepared, the land has been secured and we are about ready to approve an agreement,” Oxnard City Manager Vernon G. Hazen said.

In a Jan. 14 letter to Wal-Mart administrator Bob Bedard, Carson wrote that Ventura “historically has provided commercial activities with an excellent marketing base.”

But Carson said Tuesday that he wrote the letter at the behest of another council member who wanted Wal-Mart to take a second look at the city.

“If Wal-Mart can find a location that suits their needs in Ventura, we want to talk to them,” he said.

Hazen said he was not offended by Ventura’s attempt to lure Wal-Mart away from his city.

“They just don’t want to miss any opportunities,” Hazen said of Carson’s letter. “It was just a standard letter.”

Carson said Oxnard and Ventura routinely compete to attract businesses to their cities.

“When two cities are this close to each other and any business wants to move into the area, you are probably in competition,” he said.