On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, District 5 Supervisor Carmen Ramirez took her oath of office. “I am honored to begin my service representing the residents of Ventura County’s Fifth District. I know that we have many serious challenges to overcome the difficulties each of us experience in different ways because of the health and economic crisis. But I am an optimist and believe that working together for the greater good will get us to a better future. Thank you for the opportunity to serve,” said Supervisor Ramirez.
District 5 includes the communities of Oxnard Shores, Mandalay Bay, Silver Strand, Hollywood Beach, Hollywood by the Sea, Channel Islands Harbor, El Rio, Nyeland Acres, Del Norte, Oxnard College, Oxnard Plain, Strickland and a portion of the Ventura County Naval Base Port Hueneme.
“In 2010, history was made when I was elected as the first Latina Councilmember, and it’s being made once again now in 2020 as I am the first Latina elected to serve as a County Supervisor. I am thankful for everyone who was a part of our 18-month positive people-first campaign, including my team, my endorsers and volunteers,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez is an Oxnard attorney who served on the Oxnard City Council from 2010 to 2020. Ramirez came to the county in 1978 and was hired as a legal aid attorney. She also worked for the Superior Court of Ventura County in Colonia helping Spanish-speaking citizens understand their legal rights and responsibilities. She has been active as an environmentalist. In particular, she helped thwart efforts by corporate gas companies to put in a liquified natural gas terminal off the coast of Ormond Beach. As a city council member, Ramirez worked to improve the financial health of the city, especially during the most recent financial recession. Ramirez said she will bring her financial, environmental, and public service values to the forefront of the county. She pledges to “place the health of the community at the center of every decision I make.”
“The Board of Supervisors and I look forward to working with Supervisor Ramirez as we serve the community especially during this critical time of COVID-19 response,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers.
Supervisor Ramirez is the first Latina to be elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. She has served the community as a legal-aid attorney and a three term Oxnard City Council member; she is from the San Gabriel Valley and has lived and worked in Ventura County since 1978. From 1978 through 1998, Ramirez worked for legal-aid programs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and served as the executive director of Oxnard’s Channel Counties Legal Services Association for sixteen years, addressing the legal needs of low-income and disabled clients.