City Council Candidates – Port Hueneme

Note: this post will be periodically updated! (10/10/2026)

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm

VOTER GUIDE – QUICK LINKS:

WATCH HERE: League of Women Voters – Candidate Forum

Port Hueneme City Council – Vote for (3)

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm

ENDORSED Martha R. McQueen-Legohn (D) (incumbent) – college professor, retired navy civil servant

GOOD club
Central Coast Labor Council

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm

ENDORSED Laura Hernandez (D) (incumbent) – emergency management consultant

  • Party: Democrat
  • Education:
    • BA in sociology from UCSB
    • MS in public administration from Cal State Los Angeles
  • Employment & experience: 
    • Port Hueneme City Councilmember (2018-present) 
    • Management Consultant, Soteria Emergency Management Services (2009-present)
    • Adjunct Professor, CSU Northridge (2018-2019)
    • Adjunct Professor, CSU Channel Islands (2015-2017)
    • Assistant Director, Office of Emergency Services, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (1997-2012)
    • Emergency Services Coordinator, City of Santa Monica (1985-1997)
    • Administrative Analyst, City of Los Angeles (1982-1985)
  • Accomplishments while on City Council
    • Assisted the Audubon Society in securing funding for cameras and fencing to protect snowy plovers during nesting season.
    • Collaborated with Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez on graffiti abatement for Port Hueneme.
    • Coordinated cleanup and recovery efforts as a United Way Disaster Service Volunteer in 2023 for Port Hueneme residents whose homes were damaged by flooding.
    • Participated in regional advocacy for Naval Base Ventura County, affordable housing, and transportation improvements.
    • Led a collaboration with the Port of Hueneme, NBVC, RDP-21 BEACON, and Ventura County to address coastal erosion.
  • Priorities:
    • Community safety – Encourage personal responsibility, create citywide safety programs, ensure residents and workers know their rights, promote community readiness, maintain workplace safety practices.
    • Environmental stewardship – Protect our beaches from coastal erosion; support clean streets, parks, and shopping areas; support climate action planning and adaptation; support clean and renewable energy.
    • Economic development – Attract more businesses to Port Hueneme,  support the local gig economy, support trained workforce and higher-paying jobs, seek out new sources of revenue.
    • Good governance – Hold city leaders accountable, ensure government transparency in city decisions, increase community engagement, ensure professional standards are enforced, improve customer service, strengthen partnerships that serve Port Hueneme, support local businesses, respect our neighbors, make decisions based on merit, bring people and organizations together for a stronger Port Hueneme.  
  • Links:
CADEM
GOOD club
Ventura County Young Democrats
Julia Brownley
JACQUI IRWIN
Cause action fund
Central Coast Labor Council

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm

ENDORSED James Importante (D) – program management analyst

  • Party: Democrat
  • Education: 
    • Master of Public Administration, University of Arizona
    • BA in political science, University of Arizona
  • Employment & experience: 
    • Management Analyst, County of Ventura (2019-present)
    • Member, City of Port Hueneme’s Measure U Citizens Oversight Committee 
    • Board Member, Hueneme Housing, Inc. 
    • Board Member, Ventura County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority
    • Board Member, Ventura County Consolidated Oversight Board for former Redevelopment Agencies
    • Worked for Placer County, rising from Management Analyst to Economic Development Manager (2069-2019)
  • Priorities:
    • Building the Next Economy: Diversify Port Hueneme’s revenue beyond declining cannabis taxes by attracting new investment, maximizing limited commercial land, and supporting local businesses.
    • Protecting Essential City Services: Safeguard public safety, infrastructure, recreation, and overall quality of life through responsible budgeting, transparent spending, and fiscal sustainability.
    • Smarter Growth for a Small City: Maximize existing land and commercial spaces through thoughtful planning to capture regional tourism and boost local consumer spending.
    • Housing, Accessibility & Community Life: Expand housing options – from “penthouses to tiny houses” – to keep Port Hueneme affordable for working families, ensure public beach access for all abilities, and foster opportunities for local artists and small enterprises.
  • Links:
CADEM
GOOD club
Ventura County Young Democrats


LEADERS
– JANE KIM – Candidate for California Insurance Commissioner

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm

Steven Gama (DTS) (incumbent) – health safety coordinator

  • Party: declines to state
  • Education:
    • BA, business administration, Cal Lutheran University
  • Employment & experience: 
    • Port Hueneme City Councilmember (2018-present)
    • Health Safety Environment Coordinator, C.J. Seto Support Svcs. (2020-present)
    • CEO, Brain Injury Homes (2017-2019)
    • Director of Risk Management, Oxnard Union High School District (1996-2012) 
  • Links:

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm

Julio Kollerbohm (D) – digital media manager

  • Party: Democrat
  • Education:
    • Cal State Northridge
  • Employment & experience: 
    • Media Manager, Public Media Group of Southern California (2021-present)
    • Video Coordinator, KCETLink (2017-2021)
  • Links:

TOP * City Council: McQueen-Legohn * Hernandez * Importante * Gama * Kollerbohm