OXNARD : Police Group Backs Three Candidates

The Oxnard Peace Officers Assn. has given its endorsements for the Nov. 6 elections to Mayor Nao Takasugi, Councilman Manuel Lopez and council candidate Paul Chatman.

The support is seen as the first of four key endorsements for the 12 council candidates and six mayoral candidates vying for two council seats and the mayor’s post.

The Oxnard Firefighters Assn., the Ventura County League of Women Voters and the Public Employees Assn. of Ventura County are expected to file endorsements within the next two weeks.

The Oxnard Peace Officers Assn.’s governing board interviewed each candidate two weeks ago,said Bill Lewis, president of the association.

An endorsement usually includes a monetary contribution, although the amount has not been decided, he said. Members of the association also have been known to walk door to door with the candidates supported by the group, Lewis said.

Lopez, who has been backed by the association in three previous reelection bids, said the endorsement is very important because most voters trust the police and support any candidate who wins the approval of the police officers association.

“I guess it shows that whatever I’m doing is benefiting the community,” he said.

Chatman, the manager of a clothing store in Ventura, said he is a strong supporter of the Police Department but is still not sure why he got the endorsement.

Unlike Takasugi and Lopez, Chatman noted that he is not an incumbent and does not support a pro-growth development policy for the city.

“I’m very, very happy,” he said. “But I don’t know why they support me.”

Takasugi, who has been supported by the association during his last two reelection campaigns, agreed that the endorsement will play an important role in the election.

“I imagine it will carry a lot of weight with some parts of the voting public,” he said.