OAK PARK : Democrat Joins Race to Replace Boland

A 54-year-old computer software engineer from Oak Park has become the first Democrat to enter the race for a state Assembly seat representing portions of eastern Ventura County.

David Ross is vying for a post held by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills), who will be forced to step down next year because of term limits. In addition to Oak Park, Boland’s 38th Assembly District includes Simi Valley and Fillmore as well as portions of the western San Fernando Valley.

If elected, Ross said he will push for increased funding for education. He said he will also work to replace the state sales tax with an increased state income tax, which would allow taxpayers to take greater advantage of federal tax deductions.

Ross has held two elected positions in the past. He was a member of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council from 1976 to 1981 and a member of the Oak Park school board from 1982 to 1989.

Republican candidates in the Assembly race include Bob Larkin, who operates his own insurance business; Steve Frank, a government affairs consultant; Peggy Freeman, a former director of a health and social service center; Ross Hopkins, a governmental affairs consultant; Robert C. Hamlin, a retired sheriff’s deputy, and Scott Wilk, Boland’s chief of staff.