Meet the seven candidates for Oxnard City Council

Editor's note: This story is one in a series on the Nov. 3 general election. For more coverage, visit vcstar.com/news/elections. Seven people are vying for three seats on the Oxnard City Council in the Nov. 3 election. In District 1, incumbent Bert E. Perello faces John Barrick and Eduardo Huerta. I

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What is the story about?

Editor's note: This story is one in a series on the Nov. 3 general election. For more coverage, visit vcstar.com/news/elections.

Seven people are vying for three seats on the Oxnard City Council in the Nov. 3 election.

In District 1, incumbent Bert E. Perello faces John Barrick and Eduardo Huerta. In the race for District 2, incumbent Gabriel "Gabe" Teran goes up against Lizanne Nañez. In District 5, incumbent Gabriela Basua is running against Noemi Corpuz.

The winner in each district will serve a four-year term and will represent about 33,800 residents.

The Star asked the candidates to answer a brief questionnaire. Their responses may be edited for length and clarity. City races are nonpartisan, but we asked candidates and checked public voter

rolls to include party registration information.

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.

Oxnard City Council candidates from top left, clockwise, Noemi Corpuz, Lizanne Nañez, Eduardo Huerta, Bert E. Perello, Gabriela Basua, John Barrick and Gabriel

Oxnard District 1

John Barrick

Age: 57

Occupation: Senior deputy district attorney

Party registration: Republican

Education: Juris doctor from Southern Law School

Military service: None

Elected office: None

Website: BarrickForOxnard.com

What's your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it?

My top priority is ensuring that public safety is fully supported. As a member of the public safety community, my priority has been to recognize the needs of first responders and provide them the tools to do their jobs effectively and safely.

Oxnard does not support first responders appropriately, specifically the Oxnard Police and Fire departments. The police department, for example, is understaffed by approximately 30 officers, and they have been told by the city it's too expensive to hire more. I believe there is money to fully support public safety, but the city will not prioritize their needs. That needs to change.

Oxnard is the largest city in the county with the highest sales tax rate. It makes no sense the city has the financial difficulties it claims to have. There should be plenty of money to prioritize the needs of first responders while also addressing other issues.

How do you intend to attract more jobs?

Historically, the city of Oxnard makes it extremely difficult for businesses to not only open here, but to remain profitable. This is because of the numerous regulations and fees the city insists upon before any business can open. Their permitting process is infamously burdensome.

One way to attract more jobs would be to streamline the permitting process and eliminate many of the unnecessary regulations that delay development and businesses from opening in the city. The longer it takes to build or open something, the more expensive that project becomes, and those expenses are incurred by the customer.

I would also like to offer incentives to companies to bring higher-paying jobs to Oxnard. The city is a great place to live. Companies that offer higher-paying jobs should want to be here. The city doesn't do enough to make that happen.

Eduardo Huerta

Age: 45

Occupation: Former assemblymember consultant

Party registration: Democrat

Education: Attended Oxnard Union School District

Military service: None

Elected office: None

Website: https://www.facebook.com/lalo.huerta.1401?mibextid=ZbWKwL

What's your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it?

I am writing to share my vision and core priorities as your council member. As housing infrastructure in our area continues to grow, my commitment is to stay focused on advocating for the issues that matter most to our community, including coastal conservation and sustainable development.My key priorities include:

Community advocacy: Listening to every resident and bringing all voices to the table as we work together to build a stronger community.
Accountability and transparency: Ensuring total transparency and accountability in all decision-making processes.
Resource allocation: Bringing all available resources to the city of Oxnard to support our local needs.
Public health and safety: Maintaining strong support for the health, safety, and well-being of every community member.

How do you intend to attract more jobs?

My values were forged in a union household. Watching my mother work as a janitor for the Hueneme School District while advocating for her disability rights and labor protections here in Ventura County, including healthcare and retirement security, instilled in me a deep commitment to workers' rights. Her life advocacy contributed to securing vital healthcare benefits that also support the veterans, firefighters and law enforcement officers who serve our community.

This foundation directly informs my candidacy for City Council. I remain dedicated to advocating for fair treatment, economic security and essential benefits like healthcare for all working families in our district.

Bert E. Perello

Bert Perrello

Age: 75

Occupation: Retired

Party registration: Democrat

Education: Associate's degree from Ventura College

Military service: None

Office: Oxnard City Council District 1, 2014 to present

Website: bert4oxnard.com

What is your top priority?

Public safety is my highest priority, to continue on the fiscal responsible path my city is on is how I intend to honor the priority.

With the voters approval of Measure E on the ballot, our city can continue providing the high-level service residents deserve and expect. If Measure E fails, we lose $20 million in revenue annually from our city budget.

If that were to happen, and I hope it does not, I would continue to hold public safety as the highest priority. Cuts will have to be made in the list of priorities which fall into the wants, needs and desires categories.

Our public has grown used to the high quality of services provided by our city, and the choice is in their hands on Election Day. Whatever the outcome, I will work to honor the commitment I have made in the most responsible and effective manner possible.

How do you intend to attract more jobs?

We have a workforce that is eager to work yet the skillsets are not always what employers are seeking, the relationship of work to higher earning levels need skill sets and educational improvement. When employers see that, they come. Now, we have high-paying jobs in our city that go unfilled for reasons I have stated.

Our city has attempted, and I do believe it is an attempt well worth pursuing, to partner with private businesses and educational systems in our community, both public schools and community college to provide the skill set and education needed for better jobs.

I say better jobs because a job is something we all need, but a better job allows us to move up in the economic strata of society, which we all hope to accomplish in order to improve our families economic situation which is a benefit our community.

Oxnard District 2

Lizanne Nañez

Age: 65

Occupation: Retired from Procter & Gamble

Party Registration: American Independent, as of April

Website: www.lizannenanez.com

Nañez did not respond to The Star's questionnaire by deadline.

Gabriel "Gabe" Teran

Oxnard City Council candidate for District 2 Gabriel Teran

Age: 43

Occupation: Health education trainer; self employed

Party registration: Democrat

Education: Master's degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University

Military service: None

Elected office: Oxnard City Council District 2, 2021 to present, including mayor pro tem in 2025

Website: GabeTeran.com

What's your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it?

My priority is straightforward: keep moving our city forward by building on what works and continuously identifying and addressing areas of improvement. I will continue partnering directly with residents to solve neighborhood problems, maintaining clear communication through my consistent neighborhood council attendance and information updates via social media.

We will also continue our investments in core infrastructure — paving roads, upgrading pipes and enhancing parks—while expanding effective program infrastructure, including investments in our youth. We will also keep strengthening accountability by building on the public records tools and driving efficiency through our highly engaged 311 system. Finally, we will maintain our full support for public safety, ensuring robust recruitment and modern resources to keep response times low and our community supported.

Governance isn't about starting from scratch; it’s about proven follow-through. I am committed to keeping our momentum strong and continuing to deliver real results for our residents.

How do you intend to attract more jobs?

As was validated by our recent UCLA "Thriving Youth" Study, young people in Oxnard (working age, 18-34) face health and education disparities and low opportunities for career advancement. We must continue to partner with our educational institutions and local businesses to offer skill- and resume-building opportunities for the working-age people who live here now, to allow them the ability to obtain the good jobs offered by existing industries.

I have spent nearly 25 years of my career working directly with Oxnard and Ventura County youth, and I have seen first hand the challenges they face and the innate resilience they possess. We can turn the tide on career and educational attainment in our community, but it will need to be a fully collaborative approach with multiple sectors.

Oxnard District 5

Gabriela Basua

Oxnard City Council candidate for District 5 Gabriela Basua

Age: 48

Occupation: Housing and facilities maintenance director

Party Registration: Democrat

Education: Bachelor's degree in organization management from the University of LaVerne

Military Service: None

Elected Office: Oxnard City Council District 5, 2018 to present

Website: Gabrielabasua.com

What's your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it?

Economic sustainability is my main priority. I will continue to support programs that prepare residents for available jobs. I will continue to advocate for affordable housing. I will work to improve our infrastructure in order to meet the needs of the our businesses.

How do you intend to attract more jobs?

I plan on attracting more jobs by supporting small businesses, encouraging new companies to come to Oxnard and continuing to support our Community Development Department in their efforts to streamline permitting and licensing.