Dear Editor,
Something strange is going on with the Oxnard City Elections in 2024.
Two candidates are running for Oxnard City Clerk. One is the current incumbent, and the other is the current Executive Assistant to the City Manager.
During a September 30 candidate forum, the two candidates were asked whether the Oxnard City Clerk should be an “elected” or “appointed” position.
The current incumbent replied, “elected,” while her opponent replied, “appointed.”
Not too long ago, the Oxnard City Manager stripped the current “elected” City Treasurer of his fiscal duties and “appointed” an Assistant City Treasurer to perform those same duties. This resulted in a lengthy legal battle, with the Appellate Court ruling against the city and restoring the fiscal duties back to the “elected” City Treasurer. However, the city is currently still reluctant to release control of these fiscal duties back to the “elected” official.
Given the City Manager’s Executive Assistant’s stated position on the City Clerk’s office, it seems part of a master plan to eradicate Oxnard’s “elected” positions and replace them with “appointees,” just as was done with our ‘elected’ City Treasurer. Would this not be silencing the will of the people?
Why should voters elect someone…
