by Sabrena Rodriguez for School Board

A growing number of Ventura officials, educators and community members have endorsed Sabrena Rodriguez in her campaign for one of two open seats on the Ventura Unified School District Board of Trustees next month.

“Sabrena Rodriguez has spent the past decade volunteering at every level of the school district, which makes her uniquely prepared to help govern it as a school board member,” said Debbie Golden, who has served on the board for the past 18 years and is not seeking re-election.

Golden joins a list of prominent community leaders who have endorsed Rodriguez, including:  Assemblymember Das Williams, Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, Ventura mayor Erik Nasarenko, current school board president Barbara Fitzgerald, former Ventura Unified superintendents Dr. Trudy Tuttle-Arriaga and Dr. Joe Spirito, and many current and retired principals, teachers and school personnel.

Over 10 years, Rodriguez has collaborated daily with educators and parents to improve public schools. She helped create and implement the district’s multi-million dollar Technology Plan, as well as the Arts and Music Master Plan. She was influential in determining priorities for the district’s new budget framework, called the Local Control and Accountability Plan.

Rodriguez currently advises the district as a member of the Parent Advisory Council and the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee and is president of the non-profit Ventura Education Partnership, which raises private money for classrooms citywide.

The mother of two current students at Ventura and Foothill Technology high schools, Rodriguez said she and her husband, physician Dr. Andrei Bobrow, believe active participation in local schools can help every child reach their full potential.

“Education of our community’s youth is critical to building a successful future for the citizens of Ventura,” she said. “We need our young people to be challenged to think, encouraged to evolve and grow, and empowered to take action in the global and local community.”

Rodriguez believes the school district should focus on building strong foundations for students in reading, math and science, while increasing their technology skills and ability to work well with diverse groups of people.

Adapting to new challenges during an era of rapid change will be paramount for students, staff and administrators and for the community of Ventura, she said.

“Our schools will need a board that understands this new dynamic and can help to create a vision to achieve this for all students, regardless of their circumstances,” she said.

For more information, go online at www.sabrenarodriguez.com.

The Ventura Chamber PAC interviewed candidates for the Ventura City Council. All ten candidates were invited to participate in the endorsement process. The following candidates are endorsed by the business group’s PAC.

Matt LaVere
David Grau
Cheryl Heitmann

“We endorsed these 3 candidates for their knowledge and understanding of city government, solutions-oriented posture, and demonstrated commitment to follow-through on issues important to the business community,” said Steve Greig, Chair of the Ventura Chamber PAC. “These candidates understand that job creation and development are critical to Ventura’s economic vitality.”

The Ventura Chamber PAC also interviewed candidates for the Ventura Unified School District Board. All seven candidates were invited to participate in the endorsement process for the two open seats. The following candidates are endorsed by the business group’s PAC.

Don Wood
Lou Cunningham

“We were impressed by the qualifications and thoughtful perspective of all of the candidates that we interviewed. Each appreciates the importance of the partnership between schools and the business community, which helps make Ventura a great place to live and promotes a qualified local workforce. Ultimately, we endorsed Don Wood and Lou Cunningham for the unique expertise and experience they can bring to the position. They have demonstrated commitment, leadership and a collaborative solutions-oriented approach to the challenges that face the school district,” said James Perero, 2016 Ventura Chamber Board Chair and Chamber PAC Trustee.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (PAC) has a twelve member Board of Trustees who share the Ventura Chamber’s values for business and economic prosperity. Their mission is to seek out, endorse and support candidates for public office at the City and County levels who support free enterprise, believe in fiscally responsible government and whose views represent the interest of both the private and public sectors of the economy.

by Christy Weir for City Council

It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Ventura as a City Council Member and Mayor since 2003.

I have lived and worked in Ventura for 31 years, raising a son and daughter here with my husband. I am fortunate that their families have made our community their home. I enjoy the friendliness, creativity and scenic beauty of this city and it is important to me that we appreciate and protect our environment for future generations.

As a Council Member and as founder of the Serra Cross Conservancy and Downtown Ventura Partners, I have used my leadership and team-building skills to generate ideas and work collaboratively to benefit our unique and beautiful 150-year-old city.

I will continue to work for:
° A clean, green community — sidewalks, streets, parks, trees that are well maintained;
° Enhancements to our Beachfront, Medical District, Community Park and Ventura River Parkway;
° A vibrant, historic Downtown with diverse, locally owned businesses and thriving cultural arts;
° A balanced approach to business development that will generate jobs, while retaining our small-town flavor;
° Managed growth that is planned responsibly to preserve neighborhood character, protect our environment and respect our limited water supply.

I stand firmly in agreement with the following statements from Ventura’s General Plan:
° We desire to grow slowly and sustainably.
° We value environmental responsibility.
° We strive to enhance historic and cultural resources.
° We preserve open space, farmland and natural beauty.
° We demand the highest standards of quality architecture, landscaping and design.

We need leaders who have the experience, dedication and will to make decisions that protect and enhance Ventura’s quality of life, now and for the long term. I make that commitment to our residents and would appreciate your vote.

Christy Weir
www.christyweir.com

by Brian Lee Rencher, MBA for City Council

The purpose of any city council is to protect and enhance the health safety and welfare of the citizens they serve.  To do this, cities deliver certain public goods such as infrastructure (roads, water/sewer systems, parks, etc.) and services (police, fire, planning, etc,). Councils pay for these goods and services with tax dollars derived from the wealth of the community.  To increase what is provided, the community must either become wealthier on a per capita basis, or taxes collected per individual must be increased.

For the past twenty-five years, since the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee took voting control of the Ventura City Council in the 1991 election, per capita real purchasing power of the city’s citizens has decreased year after year.  This has led to a decrease in per capita tax dollars received by City Hall and, therefore, the City is less able to address the health, safety and welfare needs of its citizens.

Because City hall has failed to increase the overall wealth of the community due to incompetent economic development policies and practices, and because it is failing to deliver adequate public goods and services due to this failure, the Ventura City Council is asking its citizens for a tax increase to maintain the public goods and services they provide.

It is now manifestly clear that the citizens of Ventura must be intellectually honest with themselves if they wish to maintain their quality-of-life and ask: “Should we reward consistent failure at City Hall by increasing the taxes we pay, or should we be more careful about whom we elect to the council?”

I recommend the latter since it will have the greater chance of fixing the problem in the long-run.  But, before you take this advice, lets look at some of the supporting evidence.

Ventura used to be the wealthiest city in Ventura County; this is no longer the case.

Ventura used to be the safest city in the county; it now has the highest per capita crime rate.

Ventura used to have some of the highest paying jobs in the county; no longer.

Ventura used to have the best roads in the county; now they are falling apart.

Ventura used to have the greatest number and best parks in the county; now the citizens have to storm City Hall with mobs bearing pitchforks and torches just to build a small neighborhood park on the west side of town, and still don’t have the swimming pool they were promised fifteen years ago.

Ventura’s fire department used to be able to respond to emergencies in less than five minutes almost all the time; they are now much less able to do this.  This is a life-threatening situation!

In summation: I’m going to paraphrase “Dirty” Harry Callahan: “In all this election confusion you’ve got to ask yourself ‘Do you feel lucky?’  Well, do you…?”

Well I’m feeling very lucky, so I’m voting NO on Measure “O” and YES for Brian Lee Rencher, MBA.

by Jackie Martenson for City Council

Do I think City Council is doing a poor job? No. But we can do better, and this year I felt a call to help do so.

I am running particularly on a ‘green’ agenda. This platform will serve not only to move Ventura into a more self-sufficient city but also create job growth and a stronger infrastructure without raising taxes.

Which is why I oppose Measure O. Of course the city needs more revenue, but we’re already pricing average middle class households out of Ventura. Additional sales tax would further hurt the families I’d like to be a voice for. The median household income for Ventura is $66,485/year. Measure O would increase what the average Ventura citizen already pays in taxes by $170/year. Furthermore, the accountability of where this money will be spent is unanswered. It’s a blank check to the Council with an oversight committee appointed by the  Council.

Next, the drought. This is a complicated issue; however, the answer is not the state.  We cannot become reliant on sources that at any time can cut us off; leaving us worse off than before given the false reality additional water can give at the time in terms of growth for Ventura. Ventura is unique in that all of our water comes from local grounds. It is something to be proud of and why Ventura should be at the forefront of creating a sustainable, local solution.

The city has already enacted the successful “Green Street Project”. Additional resources should be provided to water conservation and reuse such as capturing and recycling yard water run-off.

Self-sufficiency is not possible without local food. We need to work with farmers and their land to utilize our precious water in the most efficient and effective means. Using permaculture design, we can restructure the lay-out of our farmlands to create a more sustainable and permanent agriculture.

To increase infrastructure, revenue and job growth, I propose ‘solarizing’ Ventura. At least three farms closed last year. If the land cannot, at this time, be reconstructed into farmable land, then there is a space where a solar farm could be applied. Other cities from here east are contracting with solar energy companies to put solar panels on all homes in their city; thus, not only creating revenue for the city, but dropping the  average household energy bill by 75%.

Additionally, Ventura should invest in wind energy. We have the wind and need the power. Echoes throughout the City call for more tech companies. What better way to bring that type of job growth than to be at the forefront of sustainable   energy.

There are seven seats on the Council. Ventura would like to see a more diverse representation of the people and their voice. Businessmen, lawyers and the blue collar worker. We may not have all the answers yet, but at least now we’re discussing new and innovative ideas. Let’s work together to find the solutions for us, our kids, and generations to come. Thank you for your vote. I look forward to serving you and preserving our home, San Buenaventura.

by Matt LaVere for City Council

I was born and raised in Ventura.  This is my hometown and no one will work harder for Ventura than me. The reason I am running for City Council is simple: I want to make sure the Ventura my young daughter inherits in 20 years is even better than the Ventura we know today. That means balancing respect for Ventura’s unique history, while also having a bold and strategic vision for Ventura’s future. My sole focus is improving Ventura, specifically, creating jobs, reducing Ventura’s awful crime rates, expanding use of our parks/open spaces, finding a solution to Ventura’s homeless/vagrancy problem and ensuring our town builds the housing we need for local residents. I believe Ventura can benefit greatly from a new voice on the City Council — someone with fresh ideas who will proactively work to create the safe, family-friendly and prosperous City we all desire.

I am not some politician who is all talk but no action. I have a long track-record of working hard to make Ventura a better place. I am a Ventura Parks Commissioner, where I have made it my priority to clean up Ventura’s parks and expand the community’s access to open space all over the City. I am on the Board of Directors of Project Understanding where I have worked with staff and Board members to help dozens of people get off the street and into homes. I am on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Ventura Rotary Club where we concentrate on community service projects, especially those benefitting underprivileged children in Ventura. And I am on the Board of Directors for the Ventura College Foundation where I spearheaded a new diesel mechanic program launched at Ventura College last month. I helped build a public/private partnership that created 55 high-paying jobs for local students, jobs which start at around $50,000/year and will quickly pay $70,000-$80,000/year. I am incredibly proud to have established this program and I will build on this by creating similar programs for other local companies/industries. This is how we bring real jobs back to Ventura.

As the “hometown” boy, I’m ready to get to work. And my passion for Ventura’s future has earned me bi-partisan support. I am endorsed by Ventura Firefighters, Ventura Police, the Democratic Party, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Counties Central Labor Council, and these are just some of the more than three dozen endorsements I have received from other organizations, public officials and community leaders.

In my conversations with Venturans all over town, I hear the same message: people are sick and tired of business as usual in Ventura. They want a new voice on City Council. They want someone who will work hard and bring a different perspective. I am that candidate, and I would be honored to have your vote on November 8th!

Learn more at www.voteforlavere.com and on Facebook at “Matt LaVere for Ventura City Council”.

What are the most important priorities for the Ventura City Fire Department right now?

As a full-service city that also functions as the county seat, Ventura faces many challenges when it comes to public safety.  The City contends with miles of coastline, railroads, highways, two rivers, the Government Center, the County Jail, the County Fairgrounds, wildland (brush) fire hillsides, tsunami threat, earthquake faults, and more.  Despite the many unprecedented challenges, the Ventura Fire Department continues to remain trained, prepared, and equipped to serve you quickly and efficiently in times of crisis or disaster.

Maintaining fire, police and paramedic emergency response is vital to protecting the residents of Ventura. One of our highest priorities is to keep our response times as short as possible.  Nearly 85% of all calls to the Ventura City Fire Department’s communications center require emergency medical attention.   Keeping all six of the City’s fire stations open is important to maintaining quick response times and utilizing every resource available to save lives and mitigate emergencies.  One of our local fire stations currently relies on temporary funding to remain open.

The City has placed Measure O on the November ballot for voter consideration to make local funding available for vital city services, including keeping all existing fire stations open.

We currently provide service out of six fire stations, with a daily staffing of 22 firefighters citywide, serving a population of over 110,000 people.  In 2015, the department responded to more than 14,300 emergency calls for service.  In 2008, the department received just over 10,500 calls for service.  The continued increase in calls for service remains a challenge for the crews protecting the city around the clock.

In 1974, when the department responded to 1,975 calls annually, the daily staffing was 19 firefighters.  In 2016, the number of permanently funded firefighter positions remains at 19.  The additional 3 daily positions we have today are only temporarily funded, and that is the greatest challenge we face when trying to maintain rapid, efficient emergency response.  Maintaining today’s response times means keeping all of our current fire stations open and operational.

Another priority is ensuring firefighting equipment and training is up to date.  The advancement of technology is, at best, very difficult to keep up with.  Progressive elements such as new air bags in vehicles and different types of home construction present new challenges to emergency responders.  Firefighters must learn and train on the techniques of victim extrication from newer cars and the dangers the airbags pose to rescuers during emergency operations.  They must also become experts at understanding newer building construction under fire conditions, and when and how the structure may fail or collapse.  These are two examples of the many types of incidents our crews face every year.

Firefighters no longer just “fight fire.”  Ventura City firefighter professionals are also paramedics, hazardous materials specialists, building collapse experts, urban search and rescue technicians, rope rescue experts, ocean rescue swimmers and trench rescue technicians to name just a few.  Keeping all existing fire stations open and our firefighters trained and equipped with the best protective gear and rescue equipment available is important to protecting the health and safety of Ventura residents.