Leadership On The Issues

Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Jeff Gorell has prioritized public safety, emergency response, and infrastructure improvements across District 2:

Ranked Safest Large County in California:

Ventura County has once again been named the safest large county in the state, holding the lowest crime rate among California’s 16 major counties. Crime today is less than half of what it was 30 years ago, continuing a strong long-term downward trend.

As the Chair of the Board, Jeff remains committed to strengthening public safety and supporting the partnerships that keep our communities secure. Thanks to the dedicated work of our Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, and local police departments—paired with proactive policy—our county continues to see outstanding results.

Public safety initiatives he has helped advance include:

• Strengthening laws to crack down on catalytic converter theft.
• Supporting installation of automated license plate readers to prevent and solve crime.
• Funding the creation of the new Homelessness Liaison Unit to improve outreach, reduce repeat calls, and enhance neighborhood safety.

Ventura County’s continued distinction as the safest large county in California reflects Jeff’s commitment to safe neighborhoods and responsive government. He will continue working to ensure our region remains one of the safest and most welcoming places to live, work, and raise a family.

Wildfire Recovery: Led efforts following the Mountain Fire to waive rebuilding fees, freeze insurance cancellations, and open a Community Resource Center. Helped raise recovery funds and worked with the Long-Term Recovery Group to support families. Advocated for and helped launch a $20,000 state mortgage relief grant for local victims

Disaster Preparedness: Secured over $1.2 million in grant funding to support fire mitigation efforts throughout District 2. Supported the creation of new Firewise Communities to help neighborhoods harden their homes, lower wildfire risk, and reduce insurance costs. Continues to partner with fire and law enforcement agencies to strengthen emergency planning and community outreach. He also supported the relocation of the Ventura County Fire Headquarters to Newbury Park. 

Transportation & Safety Improvements: As a member of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, advanced key projects including:

• Freeway upgrades along the 101 corridor in Camarillo
• Roadway improvements on Balcom Canyon
• New bike lanes and sidewalks in Santa Rosa Valley
• Safety enhancements with Caltrans near Neptune’s Net on the PCH
• Expansion of Freeway Service Patrol for quicker roadside assistance

Family Justice Center: Successfully advocated for an East County Family Justice Center to support families in crisis—Thousand Oaks has been selected as the future site, bringing critical services closer to those who need them most.

Addressing Homelessness: Supervisor Jeff Gorell is tackling homelessness with care and accountability—securing $2.9 million in new funding, supporting behavioral health services and increasing veterans’ access to support. Under his leadership, the County hired its first Director of Homelessness to better coordinate services and deliver lasting results. There was a 28% decrease in homelessness since 2023 in Ventura County. 

Supervisor Jeff Gorell is committed to protecting Ventura County’s natural beauty, open space, and air quality for future generations. As a board member of both the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, he has played a key role in advancing conservation, public access, and environmental sustainability across the region.

Through the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Jeff has supported the conservation of over 75,000 acres of wilderness and urban parkland and is actively working to add another 15,000 acres for future protection. He has helped improve access to the outdoors by enhancing over 114 public recreational facilities and expanding opportunities for hiking, biking, and outdoor activities. He has also helped secure over $1.2 million in strategic wildfire mitigation grants and supports community safety through fire prevention and resilience programs.

On the Air Pollution Control District Board, Jeff has championed programs that protect our coastline and marine life—such as the nationally recognized Blue Skies & Blue Whales program, which has reduced more than 200,000 metric tons of emissions and 5,900+ tons of nitrogen oxides by encouraging vessel speed reduction to prevent harmful whale strikes and reduce underwater noise. He has also advanced county-wide clean air initiatives, including HVAC upgrades, EV infrastructure, green equipment exchanges for farmers, and transit improvements.

Jeff’s environmental leadership extends to beautification efforts with several community cleanups hosted throughout the District, park and trail enhancements, and consistent advocacy for sustainability, clean air, and coastal protection throughout District 2.