Editor's note: This story is one in a series on the Nov. 3 general election. For more coverage, visit vcstar.com/news/elections.
Moorpark has three of its five seats up for election Nov. 3 although only one is contested.
Moorpark Mayor Chris Enegren and District 3 Council member Tom Means are seeking reelection but each is unopposed. In District 1, which covers northeast Moorpark, incumbent Council member Renee Delgado faces David Palos.
Moorpark began district-based elections in 2020 for its four city council seats, which are four-year terms. The mayor is elected at large for a two-year term.
The Star asked each candidate to answer a brief questionnaire. Their responses are below, with editing for space and clarity. City council races are nonpartisan,
but The Star asked candidates and checked voter rolls to include party registration information for readers.
Early voting begins Oct. 5, the same day election officials plan to start mailing ballots to registered voters. Ventura County's vote center locations will open Oct. 24.
Moorpark District 1
Renee Delgado
Age: 44
Occupation: Moorpark City Council member and real estate broker
Party registration: No party preference
Education: Bachelor's degree in communications studies from UCLA
Prior elected office: Moorpark City Council 2022 to present
Website: ReneeForMoorpark.com
What’s your top priority and how do intend to accomplish it?
My top priority is protecting Moorpark's safety and quality of life as our city grows.
Growth is coming, and the state keeps adding housing requirements. I can't stop that, but I can protect every bit of local control the law allows. That means looking closely at how each project affects traffic, parking and infrastructure, and making sure new development pays its fair share instead of passing those costs on to current residents. I'll keep investing in public safety and maintaining the roads and parks we already have before taking on new expenses.
I'll also keep advocating for District 1 residents. When Via Del Arroyo residents were dealing with fires, pollution and theft tied to an encampment across the border in Simi Valley, I went with them to the Simi Valley City Council to push for action. To me, protecting our quality of life means showing up and getting things done.
How do you intend to attract more jobs?
As a small business owner, I know time is money when opening a business. About a year ago, Moorpark launched SPARK or same-day permit approval & review kickoff, which has helped qualifying businesses get approved plans in as little as 48 hours. I want to give that program time to take hold, continue improving it and make sure businesses considering Moorpark know about it. We're already seeing progress.
AeroVironment's planned $100 million investment in its new Moorpark campus is exactly the type of investment and high-quality jobs we want to attract.
I also see a largely untapped opportunity in the entertainment industry. We're close to Los Angeles, have great filming locations, and I want to see more filming and entertainment production in Moorpark.
I want us to continue actively recruiting businesses, promoting what Moorpark has to offer and bringing in companies that create good jobs and strengthen our local economy.
David Palos
Age: 41
Occupation: Small business owner
Party Registration: No party preference
Education: Diploma from Camarillo High School
Military Service: None
Prior Elected Office: None
Website: palos4moorpark.com
What’s your top priority and how do intend to accomplish it?
My top priority is protecting Moorpark’s quality of life while preparing responsibly for the future. That means maintaining strong public safety, addressing infrastructure and traffic needs and making sure city services keep pace with growth.
I believe the City Council should focus on the fundamentals: thoughtful planning, responsible budgeting, maintaining our roads and public spaces and listening closely to residents and businesses before making major decisions.
Moorpark is a special community because of its small-town character, its neighborhoods and the people who have invested their lives here. As the city changes, I want to make sure we are planning ahead rather than simply reacting and that growth will strengthen what people already value about Moorpark.
How do you intend to attract more jobs?
City government cannot create private sector jobs on its own, but it can make Moorpark a place where businesses want to invest and grow.
I want Moorpark to have a reputation for going the extra mile when a business is considering our community: being responsive, communicating clearly, helping businesses understand the process and working collaboratively to solve problems when we can.
Just as importantly, we should maintain an ongoing dialogue with the businesses already here. We should understand what is working, where they are encountering challenges, and what the city can reasonably do to help them succeed while maintaining a good relationship with neighboring residents and businesses.
If Moorpark is known as a community that values its businesses, communicates proactively and works toward solutions, we put ourselves in a stronger position to attract investment and jobs.
Moorpark District 3
Tom Means
Age: 47
Occupation: Moorpark small business owner
Party registration: No party preference
Education: Masters in business administration from California Lutheran University
Military service: None
Prior elected office: Moorpark City Council District 3 from 2022 to present
Website: TomMeansMoorpark.com
What's your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it?
My top priority is protecting the quality of life that makes Moorpark a great place to live. As we say in Moorpark, "Life Can be this Good." To me that means maintaining strong public safety, taking care of our roads, parks and other infrastructure and making responsible financial decisions so the city can provide those services for the long term.
I believe local government works best when it stays focused on the basics, listens to residents and plans ahead. As a council member, I want to continue working with our city staff, law enforcement partners, local businesses and residents to make practical investments in Moorpark while keeping the city financially strong. Every decision I make begins with a simple question: "What is best for Moorpark?"
How do you intend to attract more jobs?
My goal four years ago and today is to create more opportunities for residents to build their careers close to home while strengthening the local economy and community. Our Council has worked hard to make Moorpark a place where innovative businesses want to locate and grow.
As a small business owner, I understand that employers look for a well-run city, a skilled workforce, reasonable costs, responsive government, clean air and water, public safety and a community where their employees want to live. I want to continue to actively recruit quality employers, help successful local businesses expand and build an excellent relationship with Moorpark College to develop the local workforce.
To create more jobs, we must also protect the limited land Moorpark has. We saw this a year ago when we voted against allowing large-scale battery storage systems that create few permanent jobs while raising legitimate fire-safety concerns for our city.
Stacie N. Galang is news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at 805-437-0222 or stacie.galang@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Meet Moorpark's City Council candidates | election
