Carla Castilla: First time candidate wants to be District 3 Supervisor

April 15, 2016
Santa Paula News

Carla Castilla has a lot of political experience but her run for Ventura County Supervisor District 3 is the first time she has sought elected office.

A native of Ventura County and District Director to Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Castilla is seeking the seat that represents Camarillo, Port Hueneme, Southeast Oxnard, East Oxnard Plain, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, East Lockwood Valley, and Eastern Portion of Naval Base Ventura County It’s a crowded field of candidates with seven vying for the seat, six of whom are Camarillo residents: telecommunications manager Jesus Torres, Kelly Long, a trustee of the Pleasant Valley School District, Camarillo Mayor Mike Morgan and Councilman Kevin Kildee and Daniel Goldberg, who works in the healthcare insurance industry. Martin Hernandez, Santa Paula’s mayor and the chief of staff for Kathy Long, who opted not to run again as the 37th District Supervisor, is also running.

The daughter of immigrant farm workers, Castilla said she benefitted from “Opportunity” and sharing same is her impetus for public service.

“I feel the Santa Clara River Valley particularly Santa Paula is an area that has long felt and been neglected on various levels,” including youth and job training that the county should “leverage” and expand upon. 

Castilla is pleased to see Ventura County Behavioral Health has a strong local presence that is “Partnering smartly with those already here…it’s a great model,” but other county-level partnerships should also be developed.

“The Workforce Development Board piloted a program and hired youth for summer jobs,” a program that led to permanent jobs that was recognized on a national level by then-Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.

“We have room to look at those partnerships…I have a global perspective but an appreciation of the needs of the river valley,” especially as “The 3rd District is the most diverse of the five… some of the best living and some of the worst living is in District 3. The inequities we see in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru should be addressed.”

Castilla notes Moorpark had struck a deal to route trucks through the Santa Clara River Valley and through Oxnard for a Malibu sand replenishment project noting it would have “no impact” on the areas.

Such a situation she noted shows the 3rd District must “always be vigilant in watching out for others and us as a whole.”

Castilla has visited Santa Paula on numerous occasions and said the city is “Such a gem. It’s now largely a bedroom community so there has to be an emphasis on supporting small business, the backbone of the community.”

She knows the role of small business well: Castilla’s husband and other family members have experience with small business ownership and she believes the area would prevail in accessing county and federal resources for business retention, expansion and development.

Castilla noted Santa Paula must have more recreational opportunities for young people, “positive activities for them…”

Other local issues range from the proposed Caltrans roundabouts project on Highway 126 — “It’s huge!” she noted — to how the city should grow “responsibly but serving the needs of those living here now.”

Jobs are a concern especially as employers Castilla has spoken to “Don’t feel we have the trained workforce to fit their needs,” for workers who earn a higher wage. 

As District Director for Jackson, who also represents Santa Barbara, Castilla has observed, “It’s always the case that Ventura County deserves its equitable share,” in funding and programs.

“And that’s the case now for Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru in the 3rd Supervisor’s District…they also deserve their equitable share,” and someone to champion their needs.

A UCLA graduate with an international development studies degree, Castilla has worked 15 years in public service for Jackson, Rep. Lois Capps, as a policy advisor to the President Clinton administration and Gov. Bill Richardson of Arizona.

In Arizona Castilla said “The work I did was to show how important a civic and engaged community is in electing officials up and down the ticket, from a water district to the president. 

“People have to be engaged and we all have to be at the table so we’re making wise decisions.”

She wants to emulate Jackson and Capps, whom “I observed and learned from, mavericks who are strong leaders and strong women who care about people over politics.”

The fully bilingual Castilla noted with a smile: “I used to be bilingual in French also but I don’t have a chance to practice that as much as I do the Spanish.”

Overall, “I love the community of Santa Paula, you see the diversity right on Main Street where you have new and old business owners that have lived here for generations or are newer, and they all only want to be in Santa Paula.”

Castilla believes she has the right skillset to lead the 3rd District: “Our community deserves continued effective and balanced representation, someone who has the experience, knowledge and passion to fight for more jobs, more resources and a safer community.”

Candidates will face off in the June 7 Presidential Primary; if one candidate gets 50 percent plus one vote they will secure the seat, otherwise the top two vote getters run in the November Election.





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