Certain things can be duly credited to the current Council. Under the leadership of a new Mayor, the hand on the helm seems to be stronger and a renewed unity of purpose has evolved over the past two years.  Mayor Holden, who was a former Councilmember has taken a concept from the "charter city" model of city governance and has opted to take on the role of a "strong Mayor", being in leadership and not following, being the guide and director of the Council business and bringing his long history of involvement in the affairs of Oxnard, into play for each and every decision he makes.  Our current Mayor waited on the sidelines for two years watching the direction of the city and then he offered himself to be Mayor in 2004 winning well ahead of a set of other challengers.  Mayor Holden will be a tough act to follow, but others have stepped up to the plate. 

A most formidable contender will be former Finance Director Phil Molina.  Molina knows the inner workings of the City and will be bringing up some interesting issues during the candidate debates and town hall meetings that some of the Neighborhood Councils conduct before election.  Robert Sumpter has also thrown his proverbial hat into the ring and will again enliven the campaign with his wit and observations.

For the Mayor and Council, the issues they face will be different from previous Councils.  The growth issue will still be the top one in the minds of voters.  With SOAR (Save Our Agricultural Resources) still in effect - but up for a vote again in 2008, much of our available open land has been either built upon or slated for development according to some who presently sit on the Council.

Thusly, the growth issue will focus on what little precious open space we have remaining inside our corporate city limits.  A prime example of the need to look at development is the Sports Park at Gonzales and Oxnard Boulevard.  So much the  political hot potato, that the Council carefully returned the decision process on the parcel back to the Planning Commission and if the fates work out correctly, no decision on this plot of land will have to be made before November 7th 2006.  Growth will certainly top the charts as a hot button issue --- so incumbents and challengers have to carefully craft their words and visions when presenting them to the voting public.

The Council incumbents Maulhardt and Herrera will be challenged by Bill Winter, a long time aspirant for a seat on the Council.  His platform has been to challenge the City on how it plans development and open space.  He has the pulse of the City and wants Oxnard to be the best City in Ventura County. 
Francisco Romero is an ever constant voice for the forgotten people, the homeless, the undocumented immigrant, and for people whose voices he feels have been quenched and squelched by the imposition of a sectional Gang Injunction. 
The Injunction was primarily against the Colonia Chiques - now  the Oxnard Police and District Attorney's Office have expanded some boundaries within the Injunction zone to snatch up the South Side - so it is time for walking on the pin cushion if you hang out in the "Zone" - other communities such as Ventura are noticing an increase in Gang activity and populace and Oxnard's Injunction is quietly credited for that. ---- Not much is known on the third candidate for City Council,  Enrique Petris other than he is a name on the ballot...... More to follow.

Crime has been an issue for many decades, and the gang injunction and associated addendum for the Southside gangs will put more muscle on criminal elements. 
The 2007 Council will face decisions to tweak the injunctions, expand enforcement, add more police and police and public safety services, but the big challenge will be image.  Mayor Holden has publicly stated the image of Oxnard is one of his top priorities and he has been working behind the scenes to improve our image, especially in the media.  The public image of Oxnard was a key issue in the 2004 race and still remains a hot topic.

For the next few weeks and months we will be bombarded by pamphlets, mailers, slates that candidates pay to be on, some TV and Radio ads, and just the glad-handing and happy horse stuff that makes election season such a fun time. 

The stakes are high as in "Oxnard's Future" being on the line and plays by and for  the power, the personalities, and the positioning that is about to take place.  The stage is the Oxnard Plain, the battle-ground is turf towards the ballot box and all this plus a great life in general makes Oxnard an interesting place to live. 

 ....  Mayor Holden, who reads the Ox Jo, from time to time,  adds this ...... 
......Ms. Frank's appointment. For what it's worth, if they check the record they would see
......that I nominated her two years ago for planning commission. I felt she would do a good job then,
..... and that did not change.

..................................................Bravo Zulu to Mayor Holden