Supervisor John Zaragoza, left, during a 2009 ceremony honoring Ignacio Carmona, who is joined by grandson Fernando Carmona. File photo courtesy of Frank X. Moraga/Amigos805
For the first time in about 100 years, a Latino citizen, John Zaragoza, was appointed vice chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. The appointment was made at the Jan. 11 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Adolfo Camarillo, the only previous Latino to serve on the board of supervisors, was a county supervisor from 1906 to 1914, and was chairman of the board in 1911, Zaragoza’s office reported in a media release.
Zaragoza said he is “very proud to be named as vice chair” and is also honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as someone as great as Adolfo Camarillo.
“I have worked diligently to collaborate and create an excellent working relationship with my fellow board members. I certainly appreciate their confidence shown by nominating and appointing me to be the vice chair,” Zaragoza said.
Zaragoza, and the four other Supervisors, make major budget and policy decisions, such as land use decisions and allocating financial, personnel and other resources, for the County of Ventura. The County of Ventura provides health care services, manages local airport and harbor facilities, operates the County jail and provides other services available to all Ventura County residents. In addition, the county provides law enforcement, fire, public works and other services for residents of unincorporated Ventura County areas.
Zaragoza was elected to the Board of Supervisors in Nov. 2008, and since then has been involved in the opening the Nyeland Acres Neighborhood Center, working with the Board of Supervisors to make significant budget cuts while maintaining essential public safety, health care and other vital services, organizing a Senior Summit and senior seminars, organizing a green jobs town hall meeting, creating partnerships with the Oxnard Police Department, Oxnard College, the City of Oxnard, local business groups, the Rio School District, State and local elected officials, the Clergy Council and many other community based organizations, it was reported in the media release.
His office reported that he has also met with hundreds of constituents to listen to their concerns, and to assist them in resolving their problems, as he has done for more than 40 years in his public service career.
“Who knows what will happen in the future? But, maybe, next year history could be made again. After 101 years, a second Latino could be selected to serve as Chair of the Board of Supervisors,” he said.
For more information, call the Office of Supervisor Zaragoza at 805.654,2613.