Endorsements

VCHP PROUDLY ENDORSES CANDIDATES SOFIA RUBALCAVA, ERIK NASARENKO, MARIE LAKIN & LORRIE BROWN FOR VENTURA CITY COUNCIL.

For the first time, Ventura voters will be electing City Council Members by districts. The City is divided into 7 districts and voters will vote for only one council member according to the district in which they live.

On November 6, 2018 council members in Districts 1, 4, 5, & 6 will be elected to 4-year terms. In 2020 council members in districts 2, 3, & 7 will be elected. See city map below to find your district.

VCHP believes that it is vitally important for council members to make sound environmental decisions for the city as a whole. After conducting interviews of candidates who requested our endorsement, the VCHP Board has endorsed one candidate in each of the four districts currently up for election. We recommend them as the best qualified to embrace our mission. These candidates understand the importance of protecting Ventura's environment as well as the gravity of our current water shortage.

We encourage you to read about our endorsed candidates, vote for the candidate in your district, and recommend our endorsed candidates to your friends in their respective districts.

SOFIA RUBALCAVA
Sofia was born and raised in the district she is running to represent. She knows the Westside neighborhoods and the issues of greatest concern to the residents of District 1.

Sofia is deeply committed to environmental and social justice for her district and other districts in our community that have borne the brunt of legacy industries. Sofia supports the continued preservation, protection and improvement of the Ventura River Parkway, which begins in and is adjacent to her district.

"As a resident of the most polluted neighborhood in Ventura, I am committed to prioritizing environmental issues to assure that all residents have an opportunity to enjoy a great quality of life. If there is anything that connects us all, it is the air that we breathe and the water that we drink. I will work with environmental organizations to fight for a greener and cleaner Ventura."

Sofia's commitment to righting past wrongs and providing parks and recreational open space in District 1 aligns well with VCHP’s environmental mission. HP endorses Sofia for her commitment to environmental justice for all Venturans.

For more information see the candidate's website: www.sofia4ventura.com

VCHP urges a vote to ELECT
SOFIA RUBALCAVA
to Ventura City Council, District 1
on November 6, 2018!

ERIK NASARENKO
Erik has served on Ventura City Council for the last 5 years, two as mayor. He has supported the environmental work of VCHP, the Ventura Land Trust, Surfrider, the Botanical Gardens and others. He understands that protecting our environment is crucial to our wellbeing as a community.

Erik knows Ventura's excellent quality of life, including our beaches, rivers, hillsides and our small beach town character, attracts young families to the community to raise their children. He appreciates that protection of our environment and quality of life are key to attracting highly skilled jobs to Ventura that provide the necessary income to support a family.

"I am proud and honored to once again receive the endorsement of the Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation. I share and value the organization's commitment to open space, watershed protection and hillside preservation. I look forward to continuing to work together to maintain our region's unique quality of life."

VCHP endorses Erik for his commitment to preservation of Ventura’s hillsides, his support for the Ventura River Parkway and his understanding that without these iconic features, Ventura will lose its unique charm.

For more information see the candidate's website: www.eriknasarenko.com

VCHP urges a vote to RE-ELECT
ERIK NASARENKO
to Ventura City Council, District 4
on November 6, 2018!

MARIE LAKIN
Marie brings years of experience of crafting policy at the state level to the job of city councilmember. She has worked on some of California’s most comprehensive environmental laws of the last few years attacking toxic emissions and the impacts of climate change.

With this skill set Marie will bring new expertise to Ventura in devising area-specific environmental policies as well as aiding in remediating the unforeseen impacts of prior policies as we move forward to a greener future.

Marie supports a healthy environment with clean air, water and land. She values the recreational opportunities provided by our parks and natural environment.

“Ventura Citizens for Hillsides Preservation has been a local force in preserving the beautiful natural areas which surround our city. My interest in land conservation and my background in water policy was a good fit for this group as they work to maintain quality of life for all Venturans.”

VCHP endorses Marie for her zeal to help Ventura achieve its potential as a gem of the south-central coast that celebrates its diversity and promotes accessibility to our outdoor environment.

For more information see the candidate's website: www.marielakin.org

VCHP urges a vote to ELECT
MARIE LAKIN
to Ventura City Council, District 5
on November 6, 2018!

LORRIE BROWN
Lorrie is a native Venturan and has our city’s best interest at heart. She values the character and flavor of her hometown and strives to balance the needs of people for both connection to the environment and for affordable housing.

Lorrie knows that healthy lifestyles include access to outdoor recreational opportunities as well as healthy food choices, adequate housing, and clean air. Lorrie supports giving Ventura residents the opportunity to enjoy our beaches, hillside preserves, river parkways and outstanding natural environment.

"I grew up playing in Harmon barranca and hiking on our trails, I developed an affinity for nature and all its wonder. I believe that it is imperative to protect our unique environment in our city as we balance our housing needs. I support Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation’s efforts to respect and renew our natural resources for recreational use and green space for the benefit of all residents & visitors."

VCHP endorses Lorrie because our Board believes that as Ventura moves into the future, the balance between our responsibility to the environment and to the residents of our community will be of the highest priority.

For more information see the candidate's website: www.brownforventura.com

VCHP urges a vote to ELECT
LORRIE BROWN
to Ventura City Council, District 6
on November 6, 2018!