Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Ventura; District 5

I will continue to provide outstanding public service to the residents of my district and of Ventura County. My office staff and I are noted for problem-solving and for getting results where others have failed.

My three top priorities for my next term of office are public safety, jobs and housing.

Public Safety

My goal is simple: ­ people should feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods. I am proud of my support for law enforcement, which has helped make Ventura County one of the safest counties in the United States.

Despite this success, homicides have soared in Oxnard. I will advocate for more community policing which prevents crime by having officers walk the neighborhood beat. Also, since crime goes hand-in-hand with poverty, I will work to include neighborhoods most in need of help and resources that provide young people alternatives to crime and gangs.

Jobs

I have worked hard to attract businesses to Oxnard and Ventura County that pay decent wages and benefits. I also have worked to provide job opportunities for youth which increase self-respect, improve public safety and reduce welfare costs. When it comes to at-risk youth, inaction is not only an injustice, it is bad economics.

I will continue to remove unnecessary red tape for businesses while protecting our land, air and water. I also will continue to build county partnerships with non-profit organizations, such as El Centrito, City Corps and El Concilio, that have a strong record of job creation and placement.

Housing

A home is no longer affordable for the typical working family in Ventura County.

Last year I helped establish a fund for farm-worker housing, and persuaded a major bank to donate $250,000 to jump-start this desperately-needed housing. I will continue working to increase donations to this fund.

In addition, I will work with non-profits, Fannie Mae and the private sector to put housing within reach of working families through a program that will reduce down payments and mortgage costs.