COUNTY: Ventura County Supervisor – District 2 (Non-partisan) – 2026 Primary

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Ventura County Supervisor District 2 – Vote for (1)

NOTE: A candidate could win these seats outright in June with more than 50% of the votes. If no one earns more than half of the votes, the top two finishers will advance to the general election in November.

JEFF GORELL – Incumbent

RECOMMENDATION: NO! He destroyed our local election campaign finance and ethics ordinance and raised contributions levels to give rich people a bigger voice in our elections. We also read letters (attached) in support of another candidate for this job, Mark Perryman, who was his former staff member, which were pretty consistent in stating that Jeff is just phoning in his supervisor gig in while he does his side jobs.

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  • Occupation: Chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors
  • Age: 55
  • City of residence: Thousand Oaks
  • Party registration: Republican
  • Education: Juris doctor, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law; bachelor of arts, University of California at Davis. 
  • Elected office and years in office: Ventura County District 2 supervisor from 2023 to current; California State Assembly member from 2010-14.
  • Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: None.
  • Website: jeffgorell.org

Sample of his endorsements here:

Ventura Co. Professional Firefighters
We don’t know which questionnaire he filled out for this rating. We’re guessing this one.Three stars from the hard-right Election Forum! Oh, my!

Comments on this candidate:
Maya Angelou wrote: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

We knew exactly what Trump was during his first campaign, after we learned how many workers and small businesses he had harmed or destroyed for his own gain.

Gorell and Parvin’s first move upon taking office was to clearly profit themselves by doing something no one asked for and that neither had mentioned during their campaigns. They stuck to their corrupt plan even though there were 500-plus letters and 80-plus comments against it.

(Indivisible Ventura – 05/07/23) “On March 14 and 28, with no previous notice and against overwhelming public opposition, our two newest county supervisors, Jeff Gorell and Janice Parvin, armed with a shoddy letter of nonsense, and the vote of their willing accomplice – fellow conservative Supervisor Kelly Long – proceeded to kill off our 20-year-old local election campaign finance and ethics ordinance. It has been replaced with the +600% higher contribution limits and dysfunctional violations enforcement offered by the state. 

This team would consider no compromises, no delays, no citizen-led study committee nor a public vote. Needless to say, county residents smelled a rat…(remember the rat!)

Following that March 28th meeting, people combed through the supervisors’ publicly-accessible campaign finance records, and found a number of violations, which could be excused as possible errors made in the heat of the campaign. Despite what a fawning media story reported, none of them were “dismissed.” Both Parvin and Gorell had to return contributions in violation of our original ordinance.“

We recommend that we don’t give this candidate and his co-conspirator another chance to demonstrate what they’re capable of. Though this is a “non-partisan” office, what he is capable of is tied to his endorsement from the Republican Party. (see grid above) When push comes to shove, his votes will align with their dictates on the environment – that climate change is a hoax, extraction of fossil fuels by any means necessary, deregulation of pollution controls, public land is just waiting to be privatized for profit..

I Call Bullshit: The Cognitive Dissonance of Jeff Gorell’s “Environmentalism”

Guest Post by Michelle Rosenblum- Environmental Advocate & Ventura County Resident

On Earth Day, Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell wrapped himself in the green flag, posting a list of environmental commitments that would make you think he’s a climate warrior. But here is the hard truth: Jeff Gorell is a Republican who has consistently aligned himself with a national platform that is currently executing the most aggressive assault on our environment in American history, and most of the policies coming out of the current administration affect us right here in the Ventura County. Regardless of his local posturing, Gorell is part of a party gone rouge that is not interested in conserving our land; they are interested in extracting from it, deregulating it, and paving it over. “Conservatives” my ass.

Let’s break down the hypocrisy, point by point.

  • Banning New Offshore Oil Drilling
    • The Claim: Jeff says he’s committed to banning new offshore drilling.
    • The Reality: On March 13, 2026, the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to force the restart of the Sable Offshore Corp. pipeline in our backyard. This is the same infrastructure that caused the 2015 Refugio spill. The administration is using “emergency powers” to bypass California’s bans and prioritize fossil fuels over our coastline.
    • The Bullshit: You cannot claim to “ban” drilling while supporting a President who uses war-time powers to force oil through our coastal communities. I call BULLSHIT.
  • Preserving Open Space & Los Padres National Forest
    • The Claim: Jeff says he wants to preserve open space for wildlife.
    • The Reality: As of April 2026, the Trump administration is moving to revoke the “Roadless Rule,” a move that threatens to open 45 million acres of national forest—including our own Los Padres—to road building, logging, and mining.
    • The Bullshit: Gorell claims to protect the forest while his party is literally handing the keys to the timber and mining industries. I call BULLSHIT.
  • Protecting Blue Whales & Reducing Ship Pollution
    • The Claim: Jeff claims to protect whales by reducing ship traffic and pollution.
    • The Reality: In March 2026, the administration announced plans to weaken vessel speed regulations meant to prevent deadly ship strikes on endangered whales. They are replacing proven safety limits with “voluntary technology” to appease the shipping lobby.
    • The Bullshit: Jeff Gorell may focus on “local” ship traffic, but he refuses to take a stand against the national Republican agenda that is weakening the very safeguards whales depend on. While California doubles down on whale protection, the national GOP is making the ocean a death trap. I call BULLSHIT.
  • Preventing Urban Sprawl (SOAR)
    • The Claim: Jeff says he is against urban sprawl.
    • The Reality: On March 13, 2026, the President signed Executive Order #14394, which specifically directs federal agencies to work on “eliminating urban growth boundaries.” These boundaries—like Ventura’s SOAR laws—are the only thing stopping our county from becoming one giant parking lot.
    • The Bullshit: Jeff Gorell claims to be against sprawl, but he remains a loyal soldier for a leader who has officially declared war on the very laws that keep our county from being paved over. Supporting a President who views Ventura’s SOAR protections as “arbitrary limits” is a betrayal of our open space. I call BULLSHIT.
  • Advancing Clean Air Solutions (APCD)
    • The Claim: Jeff touts his work on the Air Pollution Control District.
    • The Reality: On February 12, 2026, the Trump administration repealed the EPA’s Endangerment Finding. This is the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” stripping the government of its power to regulate the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
    • The Bullshit: You can’t “advance solutions” locally when you vote for a party that has legally dismantled the EPA’s ability to protect the air we breathe. I call BULLSHIT.
  • Supporting Local Farmers vs. The “Destroyer” Agenda
    • The Claim: Jeff says he supports local farmers.
    • The Reality: While Jeff posts about “supporting farmers”, the GOP platform he champions is executing a two-front war on Ventura County’s agricultural backbone. Of the administration’s $12 billion “Farmer Bridge Assistance,” a staggering $11 billion was funneled to Midwest row-crop producers, leaving a measly $1 billion for the specialty crops (berries, citrus, and nuts) that actually power the Ventura economy—aid that is already being wiped out by skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer costs from the Iran war. This corporate bias is cemented in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), which favors massive factory farms with 100% equipment write-offs while our local family operations are left with the scraps. Most brutally, you cannot claim to support farmers while supporting a “mass deportation” agenda that terrorizes the very people who harvest our food: In July 2025, a military-style ICE raid in the Oxnard Plain resulted in 319 detentions and the death of farmworker Jaime Alanis Garcia, while new federal rules have slashed H-2A farmworker wages to the 17th percentile and stripped away the requirement for employers to cover 100% of worker housing costs.
    • The Bullshit: You can’t be “pro-farmer” while voting for a platform that prioritizes Big Ag, bankrupts specialty growers, and treats essential farmworkers as targets for deportation—and you certainly can’t claim to care when you voted to deny those workers legal defense in their darkest hour. I call BULLSHIT.

The Bottom Line – Jeff Gorell’s Earth Day post is a cynical attempt to greenwash his record. You don’t get to protect the Earth on Instagram while voting for its destruction in the ballot box.

This isn’t just a partisan issue—voters across the political spectrum in Ventura County want clean air, protected open space, and real environmental leadership. That is exactly what makes the gap between Jeff Gorell’s Earth Day messaging and the destructive policies he aligns with so dangerous. “Conservatives” have abandoned conservation; they are liquidating our land for corporate profit. Jeff, you can’t claim to be holding the fire hose while your party is burning the house down. I call BULLSHIT.

(VC STAR) Meet the candidates for District 2 Ventura County supervisor

  • What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
    • My top priority is to continue driving toward the goals we outlined in the County Strategic Plan – forging a transparent and effective local government that delivers excellence on the basics of public safety, safety-net services for our seniors and vulnerable residents, quality roads and infrastructure and preservation of our environment, open space and agriculture.
    • Since elected, we have driven down homelessness 28% and reduced crime significantly, while attracting investment by innovative job-creators like bio-tech. These positive changes need to be continued with passion and purpose. 
  • With the cost of living rising, more residents face difficult decisions about how they spend their money. Explain how you would work to address costs for all.
    • Families are struggling. County government must continue to find ways to hold the line on costs while supporting our vulnerable neighbors. Keeping county taxes down and county fees low is most important.
    • I acted to defend programs like senior nutritional meals and accessible safety-net healthcare to lighten the economic burden. I will continue to be a champion for Mountain Fire victims, waiving fees and helping them rebuild their homes and lives.
    • We must all dissuade Sacramento politicians from imposing new taxes and fees like the proposed vehicle mileage tax.  

ENDORSED ASHLEY OROZCO – Board Director, Conejo Recreation and Park District

RECOMMENDATION: YES. She’s got solid references from good people, obviously has environmental chops and has union support as well.

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  • Occupation: Finance and accounting executive
  • Age: 35
  • City of residence: Newbury Park
  • Party registration: Democrat
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree, California Lutheran University; master’s degree in public administration, San Diego State University.
  • Elected office and years in office: Conejo Recreation and Park District director, 2024 to present
  • Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: None.
  • Funding:
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voteorozco/
  • Website: voteorozco.com

Sample of her MANY endorsements here:

GOOD club
DEMOCRATIC OF CONEJO
SIMI VALLEY DEM
Ventura County Young Democrats
Cause action fund
Latinas Lead
Julia Brownley
JACQUI IRWIN
Linda parks 1
SEIU 721SEIU 2015

(VC STAR) Meet the candidates for District 2 Ventura County supervisor

  • What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
    • Ventura County is no longer affordable for working families, and those that grew up here cannot afford to stay. With federal funding continually shrinking, this problem will only get worse if we don’t confront it as a crisis now.
    • My top priority will be to address affordability by tackling housing, transportation and economic opportunity together, not in silos. I will push for smart housing growth where it makes sense, advocate for transportation investments to reduce congestion and improve daily commutes and build local coalitions to create and keep family-supporting jobs here at home.
    • Leaders must be responsive, accountable and proactive. I will bring a hands-on, community-first, fiscally responsible approach to addressing concerns and planning for the future. People most affected by board decisions should always have a place at the table. My rule is simple: There should be no policy without people first.
  • With the cost of living rising, more residents face difficult decisions about how they spend their money. Explain how you would work to address costs for all. 
    • Every household is different. People have many concerns about costs: from fire and flood insurance, rising electric and water bills, healthcare, transportation, childcare, groceries, rent… the list is long.
    • First, we need a supervisor who sees, acknowledges and prioritizes the urgency of these issues and acts accordingly. I will take a multi-pronged approach:
      • 1. Address immediate emergency needs, like funding food share programs and housing initiatives to keep people healthy and housed.
      • 2. Evaluate current systems, programs and expenditures to see where savings can be made to reprioritize funds to more directly benefit our constituents.
      • 3. Focus on planning and preparation, to ensure our county can weather foreseeable disasters and upcoming economic downturns, such as robust evacuation plans, contingency plans and utilizing economic forecasts to plan for the future. 

(VC Star) Voting for Orozco for supervisor

I’m writing in support of Ashley Orozco for the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, District 2. She has impressive qualifications, but additionally, I want a board member who’s responsive to constituents rather than special interest groups. Incumbent Jeff Gorell has demonstrated he’s not that person.

One of Ashley Orozco’s stated priorities: “Our open space, clean air, and local economy are irreplaceable, it’s time we safeguard them with purpose.” 100%. In 2025 the VC Supervisors did vote unanimously to oppose new federal offshore oil and gas leasing, but Gorell remains in favor of onshore drilling.

For years, groups have called for changes to the antiquated drilling permits that were issued with no expiration dates, no limits on the number of wells and little, if any, environmental review. During his 2022 campaign, Gorell opposed measures A & B that would have added stricter local regulations, primarily affecting drilling under county permits issued decades ago, some dating back to the late 1940s. I can’t imagine opposing such basic oversight, but Gorell did. Oil interests flooded $6-8 million into the county to oppose the measures, making it one of the costliest local ballot measure campaigns in county history. Primarily funded by Aera Energy (owned by Shell and ExxonMobil) and Chevron, they misled voters with lies, including the claim that the measures would shut down all oil production in the county.

Shortly after taking office in January 2023, Gorell and Janice Parvin spearheaded a move to repeal the county’s existing 20-year-old campaign finance ordinance, allowing more special interest money into our local elections (from $750 per election, now defaulting to state law, $5,900). Over the objection of the vast majority of voters, the board repealed the finance ordinance with a 3-2 vote; that effectively dissolved the county’s Campaign Finance Ethics Commission, too.

Linda Warren, Camarillo

(Acorn) Change Starts at the Local Level.

Tired of candidates who do not listen to or represent our communities? Check out Ashley Orozco who is running for Board of Supervisors, District 2.

Ashley displays the skills and qualities we seek: transparency, prioritizing good governance practices, and promoting the safety and welfare of our communities. Ashley is fully funded through grassroots support, which gives me peace of mind that she is only representing the people and not special interests.

As the nation pulls back from environmental agreements and no longer seeks to tackle the dual crises of affordability and climate change, Ashley has the courage to stand for environmental protections, community health and safety, and the people of Ventura County

Retiring House Representative, Julia Brownley, who secured $19.7 million for Ventura County this year, has confidence in Ashley’s fiscal ability to manage Ventura’s $3B budget, and has endorsed her along with California State Assembly Members Steve Bennett and Jacqui Irwin, California State Senate Pro Tem, Monique Limon, and Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez.

Change starts at the local level. As we elect local candidates like Ashley, we are building a pipeline of individuals who will go on to represent us in state and federal elections–candidates who reflect our morals, commitment to the democratic process and the will of the citizens. Elect Ashley Orozco for Supervisor. 

Faith Grant
Westlake Village

MARK PERRYMAN – Government Management Consultant

RECOMMENDATION: Nah. People got help from him when his boss, Supervisor Jeff Gorell, was too distracted to help. But we have to wonder at underlying beliefs that would lead Mr. Perryman to take a job with him in the first place.

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  • Occupation: Formerly the chief of staff for Jeff Gorell, and is now a government management consultant. He was fired by Gorell, apparently because he took family leave, and is now suing the County for wrongful termination.
  • Age: 40
  • City of residence: Thousand Oaks
  • Party registration: Declined to state, and registration not currently available on public voter rolls.
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree, California State University, Northridge
  • Elected office and years in office (if applicable):  None.
  • Funding:
  • Website: https://www.perrymanforsupervisor.com

Sample of letters-to-the-editor. Complete list of endorsements here:

Katherine JanowskiAdam DarleyKelly HonigDeva Andrews
Poppy HelgrenDale ThomasJosh ModelEvan Hess
Tara MillerKathy Janowski
Daniel Rozzen
(both here)		Christina DavisBrent Mandel

(VC STAR) Meet the candidates for District 2 Ventura County supervisor

  • What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
    • Restoring competent, accountable county government is needed – because right now, failures in leadership are driving rising costs, loss of services and real harm to families.
    • It’s seen in skyrocketing fire insurance risk, the loss of pediatric inpatient care, threats to senior services and budgets that are rubber-stamped without results.
    • Voters expect a supervisor focused on them, not outside consulting work. I will implement performance-based budgeting so every dollar delivers measurable outcomes.
    • Drawing on my experience leading complex initiatives at companies like Amazon and the Walt Disney Company, I’ll modernize county operations, fix broken systems and reduce costs – ensuring effective service delivery. And I’ll enforce real accountability – public dashboards, independent audits and leadership that acts. This is about results – not excuses – and restoring county government that works for the people.
  • With the cost of living rising, more residents face difficult decisions about how they spend their money. Explain how you would work to address costs for all.
    • Rising fire insurance costs are increasing the basic cost of owning and maintaining homes, and families across Ventura County are feeling it every month.
    • As premiums skyrocket or policies are canceled, many residents are being forced into the California FAIR Plan, further straining household budgets. County government cannot control global insurance markets, but it can do far more to reduce local wildfire risk.
    • I’m the only candidate with a plan focused on the root issue: risk. I will push Ventura County to use satellite mapping, AI-based property assessments, and modern wildfire modeling to identify hazards before fire season.
    • Each property owner should receive an annual, property-specific report showing the most impactful steps they can take, individually and with neighbors, to reduce risk and improve insurability. That’s how we reduce cost pressure: by helping homeowners lower real risk, strengthening fire prevention and giving insurers a clearer reason to keep writing policies.

Hmmm… People have little power over insurance company demands, and the companies are already demanding punitive and environmentally harmful clearing. How would you be directing this process to make sure company demands aren’t excessive? Will you be helping to pay for the work that is determined to get done?

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