Veteran supervisor is trailing

In a dramatic upset, an Oxnard city councilman appears to have ousted John Flynn, one of Ventura County’s longest-serving politicians, from the seat on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors that he’s held for more than three decades.

John Zaragoza, 67, took 54% of the vote in the 5th District supervisor’s race in Tuesday’s election, nine points ahead of Flynn, 75.

Both candidates estimate that as many as 12,000 late-arriving absentee ballots have yet to be counted and that final vote tallies could change. But Flynn on Wednesday acknowledged that turning Zaragoza’s lead around would be a steep challenge and all but conceded that he had lost the race to his one-time political protege.

“I’m not ready to say it’s ended, but it doesn’t look good,” Flynn said.

Zaragoza said he was confident his 2,425-vote advantage would hold after all ballots were counted. As of Wednesday, Zaragoza had polled 14,897 votes to Flynn’s 12,472.

“It’s going to be difficult for him to overcome,” Zaragoza said.

If Zaragoza’s lead holds, it will bring an end to the uneven, 32-year political career of Flynn, known as much for his quick temper as his years of advocacy on behalf of the county’s poor.

A self-proclaimed liberal, Flynn consistently voices support for low-income housing, social services and jobs programs for the blue-collar residents that dominate much of the 5th District. In recent years, he learned enough Spanish to converse with the increasing number of immigrants in his Oxnard-based district.

In his early years, Flynn played a key role in keeping the county’s ailing public health system from being taken over by private operators. Today, the county operates two full-service public hospitals and a network of health clinics and is recognized as one of the premier public health providers in the state.

Flynn also took on water policy, helping set regulations to keep seawater from intruding into freshwater supplies needed by Ventura County’s agriculture industry.

But his advocacy in recent years has been crippled by personal issues. Over the last decade, Flynn fought off a series of allegations that he had lost his temper with local politicians, county employees and political adversaries.

The most recent occurred during this season’s political campaign. Zaragoza filed a police report last month alleging that Flynn had angrily confronted him as he tried to plant a campaign sign at an Oxnard resident’s home.

Zaragoza told police that they exchanged words and that Flynn made a rude gesture before stomping off red-faced. Zaragoza’s young grandson allegedly witnessed the exchange.

Flynn disputed Zaragoza’s version of events. Police determined that no crime had been committed.

Zaragoza said Flynn’s behavior played into Tuesday’s results. Voters consistently brought it up as he walked Oxnard’s neighborhoods, he said, adding that residents also wanted a change.

“We all have a life cycle, and at some point or another, we have to let some new ideas come in,” he said. “I commend him for all of the work he’s done. But residents wanted change.”

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catherine.saillant@latimes.com