Editor’s note: This story is one in a series on the June 2 primary election. For more coverage, visit vcstar.com/news/elections.
Two candidates are competing to represent Ventura County voters as supervisor for the 4th District in the June 2 primary.
The district stretches across the Simi Valley and Moorpark area. Incumbent Janice S. Parvin has represented the district since November 2022 and was Moorpark’s mayor from 2008 to 2022 before that. Challenger Ruth Luevanos is a former Simi Valley City Council member and has been a teacher and business owner.
A candidate could win the seat 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.
Five supervisors sit on the board and set policy for areas of the county of more than 830,000 residents. The board takes action on legislative matters from adopting local ordinances to approving budgets.
The Star asked the candidates to answer a brief questionnaire. Their responses may be edited for length and clarity. County supervisor races are nonpartisan, but we asked candidates and checked public voter rolls to include party registration information.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Ruth Luevanos
Occupation: Teacher, small business owner
Age: 52
City of residence: Simi Valley
Party registration: Democrat
Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from George Washington University, master’s degree in education in instructional leadership from Argosy University, law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
Elected office: Simi Valley City Council, 2018-2022. Ventura County Democratic Central Committee for Supervisor District 4 from 2024.
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: www.ruth4supervisor.com
What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My top priority is ensuring Ventura County fully funds, restores and expands healthcare services. This includes bringing back OB-GYN services in rural communities like Santa Paula, increasing access to mental health care and expanding clinic hours to better serve working families. I will work closely with regional, state and federal partners to secure the funding needed to maintain this essential safety net. By collaborating with community nonprofits, we can ensure residents have access to both preventative and lifesaving care.
Expanding healthcare access not only improves quality of life, it also strengthens our local economy by attracting and retaining workers, families and small businesses. It’s also fiscally responsible: Studies show emergency room visits can cost up to ten times more than preventative care. Investing in accessible, timely healthcare ultimately saves taxpayer dollars while building a healthier, more resilient Ventura County.
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.
As a teacher and mother in a three-generation household, I understand the strain of rising costs. I would expand senior services, including Meals on Wheels and caregiver support, to ease financial and caregiving burdens. For youth, I would create more paid job training programs and internships with local businesses.
To address housing affordability, I would advocate for diverse and low-income housing options—duplexes, triplexes, apartments and micro-units—on county land. I would also invest in expanding public transportation, including rail and bus systems, to reduce transportation costs. Strengthening access to county food pantries and social services is essential to support families facing food insecurity. Finally, I would fight for union wages for county, local and state workers, with automatic cost-of-living adjustments, informed by my experience as a teacher advocating for fair pay while working extra jobs to make ends meet.
Janice S. Parvin
Occupation: Ventura County Supervisor, District 4
Age: 71
City of residence: Moorpark
Party registration: Republican
Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Lincoln University
Elected office: Ventura County Supervisor from 2022. Moorpark Mayor 2008-2022, Moorpark City Council 2002-2008.
Criminal Convictions, bankruptcies for pleas: No
Campaign website: janiceparvin4supervisor.com
What’s your top priority and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My top priority is public safety —making sure every resident feels safe at home and in their community. I’ve backed that up by increasing funding for sheriff patrols, strengthening prosecution of fentanyl dealers, investing in fire protection and fire station upgrades throughout the county and improving regional emergency response coordination.
Looking ahead, I am focused on expanding mental and behavioral health services, including bringing a crisis stabilization unit and a psychiatric health facility to Simi Valley, so we can respond to emergencies more effectively and prevent crises before they escalate.
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.
The rising cost of living is one of the biggest challenges facing Ventura County families and addressing it requires both increasing incomes and reducing housing costs. I’m working to attract higher-paying jobs and expanding workforce training so residents can earn more and fill in-demand careers. At the same time, I support small business — as the backbone of our local economy — so they can grow and create jobs. Housing is the other key piece. I have worked to increase supply by streamlining permitting, updating zoning for multi-family housing and supporting affordable housing projects. Increasing supply is essential to easing rent and home prices over time.
Finally, I bring a business owner’s perspective to county government-cutting waste and improving efficiency to ensure taxpayers get the most value for their money.
Yuri Nagano is metro editor of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at ynagano@usatodayco.com or 805-437-0215.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Meet the candidates for county’s Supervisor District 4
Reporting by Yuri Nagano, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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