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Jerry Kaplan
Municipal Advisory Council Candidate - 2008

Candidate Statement

MAC????? What is MAC? Why is there a MAC? Why don’t we hear more about MAC actions? Why is MAC one of the best kept secrets in the Ojai Valley? Why hasn’t someone from MAC asked me what I think needs to be done for our Valley?

My name is JERRY KAPLAN and as a long term very involved resident of the Ojai Valley, I am asking you to vote for me for the MAC

Many of you know me or have heard of me. My many involvements and affiliations in the Ojai Valley are just a small example of my passion about all things affecting the Ojai Valley.

Born and raised in Santa Paula, I spent much of my youth in the Ojai Valley, working and playing. Over the years I have continued to spend a lot of time in the Valley and bought my first home here in 1989. My wife, Anne, and I love living here. We have traveled to many other places in the world but we glow with happiness when we return home. The Ojai Valley isn’t perfect but it’s the closest thing we’ve found to paradise.

But, I am very concerned about the many issues that will shape the future of this incredible Valley we know and love. Since we moved here, I have been involved in many activities in the Valley, and have a burning commitment to do what I can to help ensure that we keep this place as special as it has been in the past, and work to make it better in the future.

In 1974 the Ventura County Board of Supervisors provided us with a vehicle for helping us solve our problems and continue to create a wonderful life here. With great wisdom, the Board formed the Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC).

However, 34 years later, many residents don’t even know that MAC exists. When I first started talking to my wife about running for the District 7 seat, we couldn’t help but joke about how to develop a successful campaign for an almost secret seat on an almost secret advisory board!

If elected I plan to change that situation. We need MAC and MAC needs us! We have incredible brainpower and creativity here, and we need ALL of the Greater Ojai Valley involved in the dialogue to solve economic challenges, traffic and water issues, environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness and opportunities for our youth. We need the City of Ojai and the surrounding unincorporated areas working as a team on all of our problems both now and in the future.

My major goal is to help MAC become the “Town Hall” meeting place for all of the residents of the Greater Ojai Valley. We need an open forum to discuss our mutual problems, needs, and ideas. I believe MAC can serve that purpose, and provide the Board of Supervisors with the broad range of citizen input the envisioned when they started the MAC.

I have been committed to community activities in Ojai-most recently being a participant and the Honoree at the 9th Annual Tennis Marathon for the Youth Foundation (an event I started 9 years ago).

I hope you will give me the opportunity to serve the community by voting for me for the MAC.

My website is www.kaplanformac.com and has my complete biography and platform. I invite you to take a look at this website, and then let me know what is important to you. Together we can bring our home a little closer to paradise.

Jerry Kaplan