Ventura County certifies election results for new supervisors, city council members, more

Two new Ventura County supervisors were officially elected with the certification of final results for November's general election Wednesday as the winners of tight races for city councils and school boards were also decided.

Former Republican legislator Jeff Gorell won the race for the Conejo Valley-based District 2 seat on the Board of Supervisors with 51.4% of the vote. His opponent, Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de-la Peña, trailed at 48.6%. She steps down Dec. 13 from the city council seat she has held for 20 years.

Moorpark Mayor Janice Parvin won a decisive victory for the District 4 supervisor's seat based in Simi Valley and Moorpark. She drew 63% while Bernardo Perez of Moorpark had 37%.

The terms for both Gorell and Parvin start Jan 2. He succeeds Linda Parks who is retiring under term limits after 20 years as supervisor. Parvin succeeds Bob Huber, a former Simi Valley mayor who is leaving after one term.

Gorell said Wednesday that it feels good to be officially elected. "It's an exciting time with so many new faces in county leadership," he said, adding that he looks forward to working with the new board and leaders of county departments.

Along with the two new supervisors, there will be a new sheriff, assessor, clerk-recorder and treasurer-tax collector taking over in January.

Bill-de-la Peña said she will be taking a much deserved break with her family after her term ends on the Thousand Oaks City Council Tuesday. "This has been one of the most successful, impactful and memorable years for the city of Thousand Oaks and me personally," she said.

In tight races for city council seats, the final totals showed:

• Betsy Stix won the Ojai mayor's post by 42 votes over challenger Anson Williams.

• Rachel Lang was elected to the District 2 seat on the Ojai City Council by 35 votes over incumbent Randy Haney.

• Carrie L. Broggie and Albert Mendez won two seats on the Fillmore City Council.

• Renee Delgado captured a seat on the Moorpark City Council by 31 votes over Roseann Mikos.

• Martha Martinez-Bravo won the District 5 seat on the Camarillo City Council by 21 votes over Charles Sandlin.

Most of the 23 school board races on the ballot were decided long before the final certification, though a few came down to the wire.

Oak Park Unified School District saw Megan Lantsman take the third and final at-large board seat by just 90 votes.

In a race decided by less than 1%, school administrator Lou Lichtl topped nonprofit director and businesswoman Jessica Weihe for the Ventura County Community College District Area 2 seat being vacated by current president Diane McKay.

In Port Hueneme, an unusual measure that would have changed the city's name to Hueneme Beach was roundly rejected: nearly 69% voted no.

Of the roughly 284,000 ballots cast in Ventura County, 89% were vote-by-mail ballots. The remaining 11% were cast in person at voting centers scattered around the county.

Turnout for the election reached 56.2% of the 505,110 registered voters, Clerk-Recorder Mark Lunn said.

Lunn said the turnout is about normal for a midterm general election in Ventura County. "Up and down the state it is pretty much the same thing," he said.

Lunn is one of four incumbents expected to leave countywide office in January along with Assessor Dan Goodwin, Sheriff Bill Ayub and Treasurer-Tax Collector Steve Hintz. Ayub ran for reelection in the June primary but was defeated by Jim Fryhoff. The other three men did not seek reelection and are retiring from office.

Lunn said his retirement is "bittersweet" after a little over 12 years in the office that handles elections.

"It's been a privilege to hold elected office," he said. "I think we've accomplished a lot. I am going to miss the people but it it is time to move on to the next thing."

Lunn said he intends to spend more time on his hobbies and with his grandchildren. He also intends to stay active in civic life by speaking out on issues that he deems important, namely leadership, policing, the criminal justice system and elections.

"I am a horrible spectator," he said.

For a list of local election results, go to vcstar.com/elections/results/local.

This story may be updated.

Kathleen Wilson covers the Ventura County government, including the county health system, politics and social services. Reach her at kathleen.wilson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0271.

Staff Writer Isaiah Murtaugh contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County certifies results of 2022 general election