OXNARD : Johs Announces Bid for Reelection

Saying the city still needs a voice calling for fiscal responsibility, Oxnard Councilwoman Ann Johs announced Friday that she will seek her second four-year term on the council.

Johs is the first council incumbent to announce her decision to seek reelection in November. Mayor Nao Takasugi’s two-year term and Councilman Manuel Lopez’s four-year term expire this year.

The filing period begins July 16 and closes Aug. 10.

Johs, who was the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce’s first woman president in 1980, was elected to fill a term left uncompleted after Councilman Tsujio Kato was recalled in 1984. She was reelected for a full term in 1986.

Johs said she sought a council seat because she felt the council was not doing enough to keep businesses in the city. Johs said she has been accessible to the public and has spoken out on fiscal responsibility by voting against pay raises when she felt that they were gratuitous.

If reelected, Johs said she will continue to try to improve the city’s financial standing, work to relieve its traffic problems and improve air quality.

Johs suggested last month that the city, facing budget constraints, consider eliminating its police and fire departments and turning those services over to the county. The proposal was rejected in a 3-2 vote.

Paul K. Dolan, a distribution contractor, and Scott Bollinger, a self-employed investor, announced in May that they would seek election to the council.