City Candidates Focus on Crime, Youth and Growth

OXNARD —  With crime and economic development dominating the political landscape, Oxnard voters will decide in November whether to maintain the status quo or elect two new council members and a new mayor.

The incumbents are Mayor Manuel Lopez, who has been on the City Council since the late ‘70s, and Andres Herrera and Bedford Pinkard, who both came into office in the 1992 election.

The six challengers running for the three seats are an eclectic bunch, with a real estate broker, a drug and chemical dependency counselor and a retired caterer among them.

Although they may be a diverse group, nearly all the candidates say public safety and economic development are top-priority issues facing Oxnard.

All the incumbents support the two Oxnard ballot measures, a $5.27-million utility tax to enhance law enforcement and a $57-million bond measure to build a new high school in the Oxnard Union High School District. The challengers’ positions are mixed, with some unwilling to take a position and others opposing the measures.

The council candidates include John Zaragoza, a real estate broker who ran unsuccessfully for office in 1992, Emmett Whatley, a small-business owner, and Roy Lockwood, who has run unsuccessfully in every election since 1972.

Running against the incumbent mayor are Anthony De La Cerda, an independent television producer, Oscar Karrin, a retired caterer, and Robert Randy Taylor, a chemical dependency counselor.

Crime is a familiar issue in Oxnard--a city with 17 homicides so far this year. The rash of killings, many of them gang-related, has prompted residents to organize a march on Oct. 26 to protest the violence.

“There is the enforcement side and the preventive side,” said Zaragoza. “We need police officers . . . but we also need to work on the preventive end of it. They go hand in hand.”

Most of the candidates are also advocating an increase in youth and recreation programs since residents younger than 18 account for more than 30% of the city’s population. Some recreation programs, whose budgets were slashed in 1990, are slowly coming back, but all candidates say that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on the city’s youth.

Although Oxnard spends about half of its $60.5-million operating budget on police and fire services, the combined parks and recreation budget is about $4.5 million, or $30 for each resident.

This year, while cutting funding in most other city departments, the council opted to funnel an extra $300,000 to recreation and youth programs for fiscal 1996-97.

“Oxnard is safe,” said Councilman Pinkard. “Overall crime is down 33%, even though we have had these hideous homicides. . . . I know that until we address the youth problems, our crime rate will never be at a level we are happy with.”

In economic development, the city has seen an increase in job creation, according to the Greater Oxnard Economic Development Council.

“We have a tremendous potential for growth and for that you need a council that backs you,” said Pat Sweeney, director of business development for the EDC. “You need a continuation of positive, business-friendly policies.”

But critics of the council say its emphasis on developing vacant land near the Ventura Freeway has led to the deterioration of the downtown area and reduced the amount of open space left in Oxnard.

“What they have done is put most of their efforts on [developing] new land,” said Jane Tolmach, a former councilwoman. “With each new economic development . . . there is a deterioration of the existing shopping centers in the city. It is depressing to see some areas really deteriorate.”

Although all three incumbents said they are not taking the election for granted, some say they have been hearing less criticism than in years past.

“There will always be people who are dissatisfied with the council,” said Lopez. “There have been worse years. I feel confident about this election.”

Lopez said he is proud of the accomplishments the city has made in public safety. Lopez supports both Measure Y, the school bond proposal, and Measure Z, the utility tax proposal.

“We have been devoting more and more resources to public safety,” said Lopez. “We are on schedule with our plans to increase staffing on police.”

Lopez said he considers youth programs very important and pointed to an increase in Police Athletic League and after-school programs.

“All of those don’t show results tomorrow because they deal with young kids,” said Lopez. “You can’t devote resources to prevention and expect to have results right away.”

Mayoral candidate Karrin, 80, said he is not satisfied with the council. Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Karrin has run unsuccessfully for office since 1982. Karrin is a regular at Oxnard City Council meetings and frequently criticizes the council on its spending habits.

Karrin is opposed to the utility tax, saying that the council could find other means to fund the police. But Karrin does support the school bond measure. He is also critical of the council’s development policy, saying too much emphasis is placed on the outer boundaries of Oxnard without funneling resources into downtown.

“They are killing the downtown area,” said Karrin.

Taylor, who says he is a consultant to chemical dependency programs who was trained in the field at UC Berkeley, said his focus will be on addressing youth problems and fighting crime and racism.

“There must be more interaction between youth [and] professional business,” said Taylor, 43. “Also, vocational training centers need to be elevated in Oxnard.”

De La Cerda, 26, is making his second try for the mayor’s position. He is also focusing on youth training and is critical of the council for what he sees as a lack of emphasis on youth programs.

De La Cerda said he is opposed to the utility tax because too much emphasis is being placed on enforcement rather than prevention. However, he does support the school bond measure because he sees a need to ease overcrowded conditions in the district.

“We are not caring about the youth today, and it will come back to haunt them,” said De La Cerda. “It’s gotten out of control. You have kids that are out of control. There used to be swarms of recreation programs. Now what do they do? They go out and cause problems. All of these kids are getting lost.”

Lockwood said one of his main concerns is a city street, sidewalk and alley redevelopment project because the potholes and raised sidewalks present an “imminent danger” to residents. In addition, Lockwood supports annexing the Point Mugu Navy base to help raise tax revenue for the city. Lockwood would not comment on his position on either measure.

Zaragoza, a former city employee who ran for the council in 1992, says public safety is one of his biggest concerns. Although he says he feels safe in Oxnard, he believes that many youngsters need more guidance from the community. He is a proponent of the school bond measure but declines to take a position on the utility tax. He said he would support whatever decision voters make in November.

“We need to enhance the quality of life in Oxnard,” said Zaragoza. “We need alternatives for our youth. Local government, churches and parents need to work with the youth.”

Whatley, who is seeking office for the first time, has lived in the Oxnard area for more than 20 years. Whatley said one of his ideas is to create a forum for young people in which they could discuss the problems they perceive in their communities. Whatley does not support the utility tax and has not taken a position on the school bond measure.

“There are a lot of youth community programs that have been enacted over the last four years, but there is room for improvement,” said Whatley. “I don’t think government can do it all. I think you need support from the community as well. Even though I support the Police Department, I just don’t think [enforcement] is the answer to a lot of the problems.”

Pinkard, who was elected four years ago on a platform of helping develop more youth programs, said such efforts will continue to be his emphasis, in addition to continuing to support moderate growth and funding for public safety. Pinkard supports both measures, citing the need to enhance police and fire protection as well as reduce overcrowded conditions in the high school district.

He pointed to the Youth Master Plan, a long-awaited city blueprint to be released this month that could help create more after-school and recreational activities for Oxnard’s youth, as an example of the city’s commitment to these programs.

“We need to teach these kids about self-respect,” said Pinkard, who was raised in the La Colonia neighborhood. “They can do it in other ways, not through street violence. We need to reach these kids before high school.”

Herrera said his focus will continue to be public safety and economic development, adding that the city is doing better now economically than it has in many years. Herrera supports both measures.

“We have an obligation to the residents in this community to increase their economic and educational opportunities,” said Herrera, who also was raised in La Colonia. “People are saying that at this point, it is time for a change. I don’t know what that change would be. Per capita wages for employees are higher, we have a much better looking city and a much safer city.”

In addition to the council and mayoral races, City Clerk Daniel Martinez is running against Jackie Rodgers, a secretary in the city’s Planning and Environmental Services Department, and Angie Pina Varela, a management training consultant.

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Oxnard City Council, Mayor, City Clerk

Five candidates, including two incumbent council members, are seeking two seats on the City Council in November. In addition, three challengers are running against Mayor Manuel Lopez for the city’s top spot. Three candidates, including the incumbent, are seeking the full-time city clerk’s position. The key issues include battling gang violence in the city, providing affordable housing and controlling development.

City Council candidates

Andres Herrera

Age: 50

Occupation: Owner of a small business

Education: Bachelor of arts degree, UCLA

Background: Herrera is seeking reelection for his second term on the City Council. He was born and raised in Oxnard. He serves as a director for the Ventura Regional Sanitation District, the Oxnard Airport Authority and is corporate president for Future Leaders of America.

Issues: Herrera says the major issues for Oxnard are public safety, economic development and youth and senior services. He promised continued support for providing resources to police and fire services. In addition he will support senior services and securing affordable housing. He says he will work toward completion of a youth master plan and support community-based organizations to create more after-school programs. In addition he says he would like to see Oxnard’s city image improve.

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Bedford Pinkard

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired recreation supervisor

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Cal State Northridge

Background: Pinkard is seeking reelection to a second term after sitting on the City Council for four years. He has served on the CSUN / Ventura campus advisory board and was past chairman of the Parks and Harbor Commission. He was founder of the La Colonia Youth Boxing Program.

Issues: Pinkard emphasizes public safety, including addressing youth crime and gangs through finding preventive and proactive programs that will help keep youth out of trouble. Another issue for him is maintaining affordable housing and appropriate living conditions throughout Oxnard. In addition, Pinkard says he will continue to support and work with the Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corporation.

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Roy W. Lockwood

Age: 76

Occupation: Retired federal fire chief

Education: High school diploma

Background: Lockwood has been running, and losing, bids for public office in Oxnard since 1972. He has served on several committees, such as the Oxnard War Veterans Memorial, Oxnard Charter Committee and other veterans organizations. He has been attending council meetings since 1970 and speaks frequently during the public comment session.

Issues: Lockwood is concerned about the economic health of Oxnard, citing financial and economic troubles. He says it is important to keep business fees at reasonable rates so that businesses are attracted to Oxnard. He also supports preserving farmlands, restoring Oxnard’s historical Plaza Park, providing affordable housing and mobile home tenant concerns.

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Emmett Whatley

Age: 44

Occupation: Owner of a small business

Education: Associate of science degree in business management, Oxnard College

Background: Whatley has been a resident of Oxnard for more than 20 years. He has been active in his community as a coach in Southside Little League.

Issues: Whatley says he is concerned with the everyday issues facing working men and women. He says he wants to establish community action teams to increase community involvement. To deal with crime and gang violence, he would establish a forum where young people can meet and express their concerns. He would encourage local government to take a more proactive role in working with churches and schools to restore family values and strengthen the morals of the community.

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John C. Zaragoza

Age: 55

Occupation: Real estate broker

Education: Bachelor of arts degree in business management, University of La Verne

Background: Zaragoza is running for Oxnard City Council for the second time. He was a city employee for about 31 years working in the solid waste management division. Currently he has his own real estate and tax business in Oxnard. He has been a member of several civic organizations such as the Oxnard Kiwanis club and Chamber of Commerce and was past chairman of the Oxnard Community Boy Scouts of America.

Issues: Zaragoza says he will emphasize public safety by providing training opportunities that keep police and fire employees up to date with modern equipment. He also sees youth and after-school programs as important to keep kids out of trouble. Economic development and protecting greenbelts are also key issues.

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Mayoral candidates (Mayoral candidate Anthony de la Cerda did not submit information for this report.)

Oscar Karrin

Age: 80

Occupation: Retired caterer

Education: One year at Brooklyn College, three years at Interboro Institute in New York City

Background: Karrin, a 41-year member of Boy Scouts of America, has been running for office since 1982. He was a member of the board of directors of Gray Law, a senior citizens assistance group, and Food Share, a program that provides food for needy people.

Issues: Karrin is emphasizing the need to bolster police and fire protection, although he does not support the police and fire utility tax. He says the money can be found without taxing residents. In addition, Karrin supports revitalizing downtown Oxnard by offering businesses incentives to locate there. Karrin is critical of the council for development that has brought stores to the city in the past few years but not to the downtown area.

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Manuel Lopez

Age: 59

Occupation: Optometrist

Education: Postgraduate School of Optometry, UC Berkeley

Background: Lopez is seeking reelection for his second term as mayor. He was formerly a councilman for 14 years. He has served on the city’s Planning Commission, Redevelopment Agency and the community relations commission. He was one of the founders of the Veterans Memorial in Plaza Park.

Issues: Lopez says some of his key issues include economic growth and a revitalization of the downtown area. Because the city is coming out of a recessionary period, it needs to plan wisely for a better future with solid ideas for job growth and economic development, he says. In addition, he supports continuing Neighborhood Watch programs, police storefronts and providing additional police officers.

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Robert Randy Taylor

Age: 43

Occupation: Educational consultant/chemical dependency counselor

Education: Graduate of the Chemical Dependency Program, UC Berkeley

Background: Taylor worked at a hospital as a counselor for teenagers. He has been a volunteer at the Omega Boys Club in San Francisco, 12 Step Programs, Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice as well as part of the gang prevention program in the San Francisco mayor’s office.

Issues: Taylor’s emphasis will be crime, gang prevention and youth counseling. He says there must be a stronger link between youth and private business to increase vocational training and education. He says he would like to see a rebirth of the traditional values of neighborhood caring and community involvement. He says it is important to focus on the dangers of racism and lack of job opportunities in order to improve the community.

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City clerk candidates

Daniel Martinez

Age: 38

Occupation: Oxnard city clerk

Education: Bachelor of science degree, Cal State Northridge

Background: Martinez is running for his second term as Oxnard city clerk. He is chairman for the Oxnard area Boy Scouts of America and is a mentor for the Oxnard College Puente Program. He is a member of the City Clerk Assn. of California and the Ventura Coastal chapter of Assn. of Records Managers and Administration.

Issues: Martinez says his main focus is making information accessible for the public by continuing to place agendas on the Internet and update telecommunications equipment to broadcast City Council meetings. He is also working to make the city code book accessible to the public via computer.

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Jackie Rodgers

Age: 31

Occupation: Secretary, city of Oxnard, Planning and Environmental Services

Education: High school diploma

Background: Rodgers was born and raised in Oxnard. She was a former volunteer for the Brown Bag program, which brings food to the elderly. A city employee for 6 1/2 years, Rodgers has worked in the city’s parks and facilities maintenance departments.

Issues: Rodgers says the main issues are updating the records management computer program so that less paper is used and so information will be accessible to the public. Rodgers says she would reach out to community schools by providing awards to children who have demonstrated exceptional qualities.

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Angie Pina Varela

Age: 54

Occupation: Management training consultant

Education: Associate of arts degree, Oxnard College

Background: Pina Varela was the former president of the American Red Cross in Oxnard. She also served as the second vice president of the Ventura County Affirmative Action Commission.

Issues: Pina Varela says her main issues involve communicating openly and effectively, with a strong public relations program at the city clerk’s office. She says she will act as a liaison between City Hall and the public. Pina Varela also says she will emphasize efficiency and attention to accuracy and detail.