Three candidates for South Oxnard District 6 seat

Karla Alejandra Ramirez (Photo: COURTESY PHOTO)

Karla Alejandra Ramirez

Age: 29

Occupation: Childcare aide

Education: Oxnard College student pursuing degree in sociology

Years in office: None

If Oxnard voters in November pass Measure E, the 1.5-cent sales tax increase will contribute approximately $40 million to the budget. What should it be spent on?

Education should always be prioritized. A good chunk of that money should be used to revive our local schools. Money should be allocated to schools so that more students can visit a variety of museums and other cultural spaces through field trips. More science, music and art programs could be funded for schools. Oxnard College would benefit greatly by more funding. Many programs, courses and degrees that were cut could be reinstated. This money could be used to make more classes and programs available at the college. Investing in our educational system, means investing in the betterment of our city.

Editor’s note: Funds raised by Measure E can only be used for city services. Schools in Oxnard are funded by their respective districts.

Many Oxnard residents, including the farmworker community, are struggling during COVID-19 with no work or reduced work hours and high housing costs. Does the city have a role in helping them?

The people in Oxnard who are struggling through COVID-19 are people who work in Oxnard, pay rent and taxes in Oxnard. They stimulate and help Oxnard’s economy, including farmworkers. They all help the city, so how could the city not help them? Oxnard needs to have an interdependent relationship with its residents. As residents, as a community we must understand that helping each other brings us empowerment and brings us stability and security. And just how we help each other, we should be able to count on our city to help us when we are in need.

Across the country and in Oxnard, some have called for defunding the police department and using the money for other services. Should Oxnard consider spending less on police or should it actually restore the cuts made through the years?

Most crime does not happen in a vacuum. The reasons that many people have for turning to crime can be traced back to socioeconomic problems due to little to no resources for housing, for food security, for jobs and education. Defunding the police would put money back into programs within our communities that would significantly improve the lives of many people, especially marginalized communities which often happen to be the most criminalized and policed. We need to stop spending millions each year on policing and start investing in what our communities actually need.

Carolina Gallardo Magaña

Age: 54

Occupation: Business owner

Education: College

Years in office: n/a

If Oxnard voters in November pass Measure E, the 1.5-cent sales tax increase will contribute approximately $40 million to the budget. What should it be spent on?

I believe Measure E is not a good fit for the community at this moment due to COVID-19. Many people have lost their jobs and hardly can afford or may not be able to afford it at all when purchasing certain items. If Measure E passes, I would like to see better roads in Oxnard; I would like to have them fully repaired and not just patching. I would like to implement youth programs, homelessness services and provide more family services for low income families. A plan must be implemented to make good use of that sales tax increase.

Many Oxnard residents, including the farmworker community, are struggling during COVID-19 with no work or reduced work hours and high housing costs. Does the city have a role in helping them?

Yes, Oxnard is composed in majority by farm workers. Unfortunately I have not seen the city helping its residents to alleviate the burden that they are going through. I have seen the food bank and community organizations providing food to those in need. I wish the city was doing something to alleviate this crisis in some way, something like at least reducing a percentage of the utility bills. Also, the city should propose, pass and implement an ordinance in regard to rent control and to have this ordinance closely monitored and audited periodically.

Across the country and in Oxnard, some have called for defunding the police department and using the money for other services. Should Oxnard consider spending less on police or should it actually restore the cuts made through the years?

I do not believe in defunding the police department, but in redirecting and reinvesting funds in community services. For example, Oxnard Police Department should be more actively engaged with the community by walking the neighborhoods and having that direct interaction with the community. Part of that budget perhaps can go to creating some youth programs throughout the city. Also, part of the PD budget can go to affordable housing, job placement opportunities among many other services needed in Oxnard, which would also offset the cause of many of the violence or PD service requested.

Vianey Lopez

Age: 33

Occupation: District director for Assemblymember Monique Limón

Education: Masters in public policy, Pepperdine University; bachelor of science in business administration, Loyola Marymount University

Years in office: One year, nine months

If Oxnard voters in November pass Measure E, the 1.5-cent sales tax increase will contribute approximately $40 million to the budget. What should it be spent on?

There is more need than funds available, but if Measure E passes, a priority will be to restore city services and maintenance throughout the city. We should also bring back the paramedic squad at Fire Station 8 and invest in youth programs to support the thousands of working families, in partnership with our school districts. Since our last budget was passed with funds from our reserves, we need to replenish these funds and prepare for the next financial crisis. I realize this does not sound exciting but it is necessary, reserves should be at 12% — we are below that.

Many Oxnard residents, including the farmworker community, are struggling during COVID-19 with no work or reduced work hours and high housing costs. Does the city have a role in helping them?

In difficult times, we should be able to rely on our federal, state, and local governments to help where they can. And the city has taken actions to help individuals and struggling families, including suspending the cut off of utilities — due to missed or late payments. Also, the city’s Recreation and Community Services Department has been assisting at our weekly Food Share distribution at College Park to support Oxnard families, the largest distribution in Ventura County. Also, federal funds through the CARES Act are being managed by the county and has provided rental assistance for many residents.

Across the country and in Oxnard, some have called for defunding the police department and using the money for other services. Should Oxnard consider spending less on police or should it actually restore the cuts made through the years?

Police officers are responding to calls every shift, every day. Some incidents are more public and shared online, while many others, involving highly sensitive family matters and/or minors, we never hear about. I spent a few hours last year during a ride along where I witnessed police response to calls that go beyond public safety, requiring referral services to housing, counseling and more. It would be valuable to evaluate types of calls and steps we can take to distribute appropriate responses so officers are able to focus on public safety. This may free up overtime funds, to redistribute for other services.

Election 2020

Ballots: Most Ventura County voters will receive their ballots the week of Oct. 5. If not received by Oct. 16, voters should contact the elections office and request a second ballot be mailed. 

Deadline to register: Online by Oct. 19 and in-person only Oct. 20 to Nov. 3.

When to vote: Mail in ballots by Election Day or vote in person Oct. 31-Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 47 polling stations. Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find out more:venturavote.org.

For coverage of Ventura County races and issues:www.vcstar.com/elections