The League of Women Voters in Ventura County hosted the Oxnard Mayoral Candidate Forum on Oct. 8, 2020. The elected mayor would hold a two-year term, representing both government and the community. Only two out of the three candidates running were present, John C. Zaragoza and Deirdre Frank. Richard Linares was expected to be present at the forum, unfortunately he could not make it.
The moderator for the night was David Maron. The President of the League of Women Voters in Ventura County, Betsy Patterson, started off by explaining LWV’s mission.
“The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization, we do not support or oppose any candidate or political party,” Patterson then reminded the audience of the importance of voting. “Each of us has a voice in our government but only if we use our vote”
Maron explained the guidelines for the night. Each candidate was given one and a half minutes each. The first opening statement was given by Frank. Frank is a lawyer, UCLA graduate and attended law school in Southwestern University in Los Angeles. Frank was motivated to run for office because she’s lived here since 1988. Frank is optimistic about the future of Oxnard and explained how she wants to be part of it.
“This city has a lot to offer. Although we’re in some dire circumstances right now, we have a lot of success in our future, I want to be there to guide that,” Frank said.
Zaragoza is a third generation Oxnard resident, has served as council member for 12 years and as supervisor for 12 years. Zaragoza explained the reason why he’s running for mayor.
“The reason I’m running for mayor is because I care about Oxnard and I love Oxnard, I think it’s important that we have somebody who’s been living here all its life, somebody that can have strong leadership,” Zaragoza explains
After opening statements, the first two questions that were asked dealt with the environment. The first question was about the Ormond Beach Wetlands. It is located in between the Port of Hueneme and Point Mugu Naval Base. It is home to many rare plants and migratory birds. Moderator Maron asked the candidates on ways to improve and preserve the habitat.
“What do you think as far, as how, what is the best policies that should be put in place to improve that critical habitat and I remind you that many volunteers have removed thousands of pounds of trash from the wetlands so the voters want to know what will you do to improve and preserve that habitat?,” Maron asked.
Zaragoza explained that as council-member he has worked with Ormond Beach. He expressed his support for the habitat and would continue to support it. He talked about the ways to preserve the habitat.
“I think it’s important that we save it and work with that with the constituency and work with a conservancy and I’ve worked with a conservancy for many years and also work with the University of Channel Islands to preserve that,” Zaragoza said.
Frank shared an experience she had with Ormond Beach when she was in the planning commission. Frank explained she was the only ‘no’ vote for a plan to develop Ormond Beach into North Shore and South Shore. She explained that Mr. Zaragoza did not agree nor disagree.
“Everything I can share with you that I was on the planning commission when the very ill-conceived specific plan to develop Ormond Beach into North Shore and South Shore came forward, during the time Mr. Zaragoza was on the city council, even though he may not have voted to approve of the specific plan, there was no emphatic opposition this specific plan got all the way to the final vote,” Frank states.
The second question of the night focused on climate change. Maron emphasized that the climate is changing in the City of Oxnard and asked the candidates to share their views on how the city should adapt to climate change and what it can do to curtail emissions. Frank started off by explaining her views on how the city could adapt to climate change.
“We need to green our buildings, decarbonize them and start using our natural light and then definitely impose a solar requirement on all new construction and modify our existing buildings to the extent that we can to be self sufficient and get us into a micro-grid situation,” Frank explains.
Zaragoza’s plan consisted of the city transitioning into alternative energy. The plan is to transition from fossil fuel to alternative fuel. Zaragoza explained how the city could transition to alternative fuel.
“Climate change is with us and we need to follow the scientific part of climate change and work with and look at alternative fuels over a sufficient time so we can transition from fossil fuel to alternative, we don’t want to lose jobs we just need to do,” Zaragoza explains.
One of the propositions the candidates were asked about is Measure L. Measure L will change the way the city’s finances are managed by combining the city treasurer and chief financial officer. Maron asked the candidates whether they support Measure L or opposed it. Both candidates opposed the measure. Frank explained her opposition.
“I am absolutely opposed to Measure L, I don’t think it provides enough checks and balances when you allow the treasurer to also be the chief financial officer of the city. This is on the ballot because of internal issues that the current treasurer is having with the city administration,” Frank states.
Zaragoza said it was a bad decision to combine both positions.
“I think it’s really bad, bad decision to combine the treasure in the financial director,” Zaragoza said.
For additional information on the Oxnard Mayoral Candidate Forum please visit League of Women Voters’ Youtube channel to watch the recording. To vote for the City of Oxnard’s Mayor vote on November 3, 2020.
