Ventura County

Local Partner

November 2020 Election Cheat Sheet

Explanations for endorsements are below.

Ventura County Board of Supervisors

District 5 *

✅ Carmen Ramirez

California State Ballot Propositions

Prop 15
✅ Yes

Camarillo

City Council, District 4 *
✅ Heather Schmidt

Ojai

City Council, District 4 *
✅ Jeri Becker
Measure K *
✅ Yes

Oxnard

Mayor *
✅ John Zaragoza
City Council, District 3 *
✅ Oscar Madrigal
Measure E *
✅ Yes
Measure N *
⛔ No

Santa Paula

City Council *
✅ Margaux Bangs

Simi Valley

Mayor *
✅ Joe Ayala

Thousand Oaks

City Council *
✅ Danny Chulack

Ventura

City Council, District 2 *
✅ Doug Halter
Measure H *
✅ Yes

* Endorsements marked with an asterisk are made by only by the local chapter. All other endorsements are from both the local chapter and YIMBY Action.

Endorsement Explainer

California State Ballot Propositions

✅ YES

Proposition 15: Schools and Communities First

Proposition 15 will get rid of property tax breaks for big businesses, and put billions of dollars towards schools and local services.

Currently, thanks to 1978’s Prop 13, owners pay property taxes based on the price they originally paid for that real estate—typically a lot less than what it’s worth today. Prop 15 will roll this back for many large businesses, raising property taxes to be assessed based on the property’s current (probably much higher) market value. Prop 15 will raise approximately $6.5 to $11.5 billion — 60% for cities, counties and special districts, and 40% for schools and community colleges. Homeowners and businesses with under $3 million in California property will be exempted, along with farm land.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY and YIMBY Action.

✅ YES

Proposition 19: Changes Some Property Tax Transfers and Exemptions

Proposition 19 adjusts the rules of 1978’s Proposition 13. While many YIMBYs would like to see major reform to Prop 13, this is a small adjustment to California’s property tax rules. Prop 19 reduces tax subsidies for people who inherit multiple homes, and shifts them to people downsizing homes or who are moving due to natural disasters. Any excess tax revenue from reducing the multiple-homes subsidy goes to wildfire protection.

Currently, for homeowners who want to downsize to a smaller home, if it costs more than the original price of their big home, they can end up paying more taxes (depending on their county’s rules). Prop 19 makes sure that people who are down-sizing homes are protected from tax increases. Ideally, this allows long-time homeowners to downsize and allow others who need more space to move into their larger homes. Prop 19 also extends to people who are moving due to natural disasters, so they don’t face a tax hike on top of the trauma of losing their homes.

Endorsed by YIMBY Action.

Ventura County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor District 5

Carmen Ramirez

As Oxnard’s Mayor Pro Tem, Ramirez has consistently supported housing projects, accessory dwelling unit streamlining, and homelessness services, and has demonstrated intent to bring inclusive housing policy to the entire county. In our questionnaire, Ramirez said that farmworkers, disabled people, and seniors “are too often priced out and have to live in miserable and overcrowded conditions, which leads to the fraying of our society,” and that “we also need to support transportation options that will get people out of their cars and help to avoid the climate changes that are getting worse every day as people still drive gas powered vehicles.”

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Camarillo

Camarillo City Council

District 4

Heather Schmidt

Schmidt is exceptionally knowledgeable and supportive of all areas of housing and transportation reform, from the history and consequences of exclusionary zoning to the legislation and local actions that can make our communities more safe and affordable. She believes adding housing of all types is the key to affordability, saying in our questionnaire that she is “definitely in support of legalizing residential buildings up to five stories near major transit jobs and in job-rich areas…I also believe that a diversity of affordable housing options mixed in through out the single family home communities…is the right way to go.” We agree!

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Ojai

Ojai City Council

District 4

Jeri Becker

Becker started off her questionnaire response by saying, “There is a housing crisis. I know, I see it daily … This crisis will not only affect every individual but also our City’s financial health, and the health of our businesses. Let’s make smart decisions that give Ojai a chance to continue to be livable and healthy.” From lobbying Sacramento to allow housing on church property, to proposing housing developments near transit, to advocating reduced fees on low-income housing, Becker has supported housing from many angles, and would bring that perspective to making Ojai more inclusive.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

✅ YES

Measure K

This local bond will levy a 0.027 percent property tax to fund schools. We believe that this is an important set of programs to fund, and that property taxes are a just way of funding them, especially given the rise in Ojai property values.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Oxnard

Oxnard Mayor

John Zaragoza

A current Ventura County supervisor and former Oxnard councilmember, Zaragoza has considerable experience working on local issues and supporting projects that provide needed housing to the city and county.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Oxnard City Council

District 3

Oscar Madrigal

Madrigal connects housing segregation to school segregation, saying “As a teacher, I see this everyday.” As an incumbent, he has shown a commitment to bringing down housing costs, and would continue to do so if re-elected.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

✅ YES

Measure E

Amid extraordinary budget shortfalls due to the pandemic, cities need funding to continue critical programs. This 1½¢ sales tax will maintain homelessness services and other priorities.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

⛔ NO

Measure N

Measure N holds city services hostage on vehicle infrastructure, promising to deny sales tax revenue if pavement standards aren’t met. Threatening the city’s safety and security by cutting off funding for fire and emergency response is grotesque, especially for the sole purpose of making driving more pleasant.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Santa Paula

Santa Paula City Council

Margaux Bangs

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, Bangs understands the importance of growth and development to ensure cities thrive. Her answers to our candidate questionnaire were pro housing, and she has made affordable housing and rents a key part of her campaign.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Simi Valley

Simi Valley Mayor

Joe Ayala

Ayala, a veteran and union negotiator, is currently running to unseat anti-housing Simi Valley mayor Keith Mashburn. Having grown up working class, Ayala understands the hardships renters face. He has stated he is looking to increase the development of missing middle housing to house Simi Valley’s workforce, and on our questionnaire said, “All people need affordable homes where they can feel safe and secure in their community.”

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks City Council

Danny Chulack

Chulack has made housing a top campaign issue, especially for students, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness. He recognizes that protecting Thousand Oaks’s open space is not in conflict with addressing the housing shortage. He said in our questionnaire, “I am committed to building more affordable housing in the city.”

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

Ventura

Ventura City Council

District 2

Doug Halter

Halter deeply understands the causes and consequences of our housing shortage, and supports housing at all levels, especially infill. In our questionnaire, he said, “Affordable housing; infill construction before considering any encroachment on farmland and higher density…are a big part of the solutions we need and my desire to run for office.” He has also served the community as a commissioner and board member of several organizations, bringing him the experience, knowledge, and disposition to get more housing built in Ventura.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.

✅ YES

Measure H

This four-year renewal of a $59 parcel tax would fund a range of academic programs. We’re especially fond of parcel taxes since they tax apartments less than single family homes (apartment complexes are treated as single parcels), making this a pro-housing way to help our children succeed.

Endorsed by Ventura County YIMBY.