Oxnard Issue Should City Change Its...

As a supervisor, I would have no authority in changing the name. It would have to be done by the City Council or by initiative. However, I would entertain the idea of putting the issue on the ballot as an advisory vote for the council. The idea has some merit; otherwise it wouldn’t continue to come up. I don’t necessarily object to the name. Oxnard has a long and significant history, but if you look at the name of Oxnard and then the names of all the cities on the California coast, such as Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, even Los Angeles, and in the midst of all these pretty names you see the name of Oxnard, well, it just doesn’t flow. I would like to see it at least considered by the City Council. I don’t know if a public referendum would pass because a majority of the people would have to support it. I’d give it a 50-50 chance of succeeding, though. I mean, the Oxnard family no longer lives in this area. They’re unlike other old-timers such as the McGraths and the Borchards.