OXNARD : Holden Expected to Run for Reelection
Oxnard City Councilman Tom Holden is expected to announce plans to run for reelection during a press conference scheduled today.
Holden, a 39-year-old optometrist, joined the council after defeating 12 rivals in a special election last year to fill the seat vacated by Manuel Lopez, who was elected mayor.
To deal with Oxnard’s budget shortfall without cutting city services, Holden has championed efforts to run the city like a business, advocating private management of public programs and private sector competition. His critics have charged that he has not done enough to create low-income housing in the city.
In addition to the seat held by Holden, another council seat and the mayor’s post will be up in the Nov. 8 election. Both Lopez and Councilman Mike Plisky have filed papers with the city clerk’s office, but have yet to announce whether they intend to run for reelection.
Former city employee John Zaragoza is the only other person to formally announce his candidacy for the City Council.
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