The 2018 election will be for Districts 1, 4, 5, and 6, and the 2020 election Districts 2, 3, and 7.

by Burris DeBenning

Unanimously, at the December 18 City Council meeting, council members voted 7-0 to adopt an electoral district map for the 2018 and 2020 election cycles, which brings the arduous work to change from an “at large” election process to a district election process almost to a close. All that remains is adoption of the ordinance amending the City’s election codes, which may be done by mid-January. The re-districting project spans nearly four years, begun in 2014, and involved dozens of council meetings, public notices, thousands of hours of community involvement, staff dedication and input from a professional election consultant. From 33 maps initially submitted by individual and community organizers, 19 maps were legally compliant, followed by a further narrowing of the field to four maps that council chose from: 11,16,22,23. These maps can be viewed at: www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10830.

With no debate, council picked Map #11, based on the common council perspective that this map keeps communities of interest and geography together. Member Christy Weir, who raised her family in Montalvo, said that Map #11 does not divide Montalvo like some of the other maps. “We always thought of Montalvo as Victoria Avenue to Ramelli Avenue, not divided by Johnson Drive, which is what happens with Map #22,” Weir commented. Member Mike Tracy, who introduced the motion to adopt Map #11, stated that it was important for Montalvo and Pierpont to be in the same district, given their shared socioeconomic and community needs. “We need a map that reminds people that, even though council members will represent their own districts, they still come together to support the whole city,” said member Cheryl Heitmann. Heitmann also said that some neighborhoods like Pierpont are thought to have only wealthy homeowners, but in fact have a lot of renters like the Montalvo area. Member Matt LaVere endorsed Map #11 because it provides a strong Westside, Saticoy and Montalvo. “Map #11 achieves bringing the far ends of the City into council chambers,” said member and former mayor Erik Nasarenko.

Despite the vote, many members of the public spoke to oppose Map #11 and support Maps #22 and #23 that, in their view, represented the City’s Latino vote and community diversity best. Most opponents spoke in the name of CA– USE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy), which focuses on immigrant rights, wage reform and environmental improvement. A teacher with the Ventura Unified School District called Ventura a “wonky L-shaped city” that requires boundaries recognizing demographic similarities. Others spoke of the need to empower disenfranchised blocks of voters, keep the hillsides separate from the working classes and maintain the unique ethnic characteristics of certain neighborhoods. It was argued that Map #11 neglects the predominantly low income, immigrant and renter populations in Montalvo and Saticoy.

In the final evaluation, valid maps had to meet key requirements of the Federal Voting Rights Act (FVRA) and California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Mayor Neil Andrews thanked the public and staff for exemplary work on this project. The final reading of the new district ordinance is scheduled for the January 8, 2018 council session.

His City Council colleagues voted 7-0 for him to be mayor.

After more than 20 years as an active businessman and community volunteer in Ventura, Neal Andrews was encouraged by many citizens of Ventura to run for City Council. He was elected on his first attempt in 2001.

Now 16-years later he has been selected to be Ventura’s mayor by the City Council.

Before founding Horizon Management Services, Neal worked in a variety of capacities with Blue Cross of California, managing their statewide system of contracting for health services and later heading Behavioral Health Access, the corporate division responsible for mental health services to Blue Cross members. He has also been a hospital administrator, chief executive of a regional joint powers agency, and a university professor.

His professional honors include being twice elected to the International Board of Directors of The Planning Forum, then the leading international professional organization in the discipline of strategic planning and management. In addition, Neal has served on the National Leadership Council for the Institute for Behavioral Health, as a Scholar-Diplomat under the sponsorship of the U. S. State Department, as a Fellow of the National Security Education Seminar and the Inter-University Colloquium on Armed Forces and Society.

He is the author of Foreign Policy and the New American Military and many papers and articles on matters of public policy, business, and health care over the years. He is a popular speaker before regional and national conference audiences including such prestigious organizations as The Conference Board, the California Medical Association, and the National Managed Health Care Congress.

Over the years, Neal has also served as the Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties representative on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Health Care Executives Association, as a Member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts, and as an officer and board member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, among others. He is widely known as an active citizen advocate in water quality and water conservation public policy issues in Ventura.

He is a member of Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

Neal received his baccalaureate degree from Duke University and his graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He later completed additional post-graduate work at the Michigan State University School of Public Administration and the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

He had been the longest-serving council member to never hold the post of mayor. His colleagues voted 7-0 for him to be mayor. In December 2015, Andrews was named deputy mayor when Erik Nasarenko became mayor. He succeeded Nasarenko at the conclusion of his two-year term.

Andrews stated when the council decides on a policy, “I will be the spokesperson for that policy, even if I didn’t agree with it.”

Andrews went on “I’ll be immediately focused on hiring a new city manager (Mark Watkins is retiring this month)and devoting my energy to redistricting.” The city is creating district boundaries for the upcoming election.

When elected little did he know that his first concern would be the devastating fires that have over -whelmed Ventura.

Council member Matt LaVere, who was elected in 2016, became deputy mayor on a 7-0 vote.

Erik Nasarenko’s parents and sister were in attendance at the city council meeting . He thanked the crowd and spoke of accomplishments of which he was particularly proud. Including getting a half-cent sales tax approved and moving the city to even year elections.