Conference to Honor Anti-Tobacco Efforts

The way John Elfers views it, going up against the tobacco industry is somewhat like David fighting Goliath.

“We’re throwing stones at a monolithic institution, which is the Tobacco Institute,” said Elfers, chairman of the Ventura County Tobacco School-Community Cooperative. “They are in the pockets of every politician. The only reason some politicians don’t [accept money] is because they have integrity, not because they haven’t been offered.”

Elfers helps coordinate the anti-tobacco group, comprised of county school and community organizations. During a conference Monday titled “Tobacco Wars: Past Present and Future,” the group plans to recognize those who waged small and large battles against the tobacco industry.

They are the Fillmore Unified School District, the first school district in the county to become completely tobacco free; Ventura attorney Fred Bysshe, who helped pass a number of city ordinances for nonsmoking restaurant sections; and Judy Syles, who brings together many of the agencies for the anti-tobacco group.

“[The event] celebrates what we’ve already done,” Elfers said. “It acknowledges those who have been outstanding. It’s just one of those issues we continually need to keep in the public eye.”

Since 1988, smoking among adults in the county has gone down from 26% to 17.6%, according to the state Department of Health Services. Among schoolchildren, the numbers have gone up a couple percentage points over the last few years, Elfers said.

With Hollywood stars becoming models for the cigar industry, the group must be ever vigilant about keeping adults and children from lighting up, Elfers said.

The conference, open to the public, will be held from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at the James F. Cowan Conference Center at 550 Airport Way in Camarillo. Call Elfers at 388-4412 for more information.