Zaragoza Plans 2nd Run for Council

John C. Zaragoza, a former refuse superintendent who lost a bid for a seat on Oxnard’s City Council in 1994, announced plans Tuesday to run again for the post.

Now the owner of an Oxnard real estate and tax business, Zaragoza said his more than 30 years of working in the city of Oxnard--including 15 years as a division head for the city’s solid waste division--prepares him for the job.

“I think I have the experience to run the city, to manage the city,” said Zaragoza, a 54-year-old Oxnard native.

“I think that I have the ability. I run my own business.”

Zaragoza, who holds an associate degree in business administration from Ventura College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from La Verne University, retired from the city in 1993 to open Home Center Real Estate.

One of Zaragoza’s most recent political moves involved campaigning for a resident-led petition drive to reinstate Oxnard’s Planning Commission.

The City Council voted last year to replace the commission with a Land Use Advisors panel that residents complained was less responsive to the public’s views.

Although the petition drive failed to collect enough signatures, the City Council voted in March to bring back the Planning Commission in a modified form.

Zaragoza said “open government” is one of his campaign themes and that he believes his work on the petition put him in touch with many voters.

He also said that if elected, he plans to support beefed-up public safety and more after-school programs for youths.

Three council members are up for reelection in November, including Mayor Manuel Lopez who announced his intention to run again earlier this year.

Although City Councilman Andres Herrera has not officially launched his campaign, he said Tuesday he plans to run again.

Zaragoza will officially kick off his campaign April 28 with a picnic at Oxnard State Beach Park beginning at noon.