The County of Ventura is facing extraordinary challenges, confronting not only a health crisis but also an economic crisis. My name is Dean Kunicki, I am running to represent you on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.
As we recover from the pandemic, I want to ensure our County Government paves a path to support those who are rebuilding their lives, provide needed services to the homeless while protecting our quality of life – like public safety, a strong economy, and open spaces – that make Ventura County the special place we call home.
Today, I would be honored to have your support and vote.
Because of my strong dedication to our community and this county, I’ve spent decades in public service as a community volunteer.
I have been honored to serve East County residents on the Ventura County Board of Education. As a Ventura County Supervisor, I will continue the fight to ensure East County residents receive their fair share of County resources.
Appointed and entrusted by the Simi Valley City Council, I served on the Simi Valley Budget Advisory Committee to address a possible pension crisis and ensure financial stability in our municipal budget.
As the Vice Chairman of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, I have been fighting to keep our taxes low and working with elected officials for our tax dollars to be spent efficiently.
With crime rising in our County, we need to give our Sheriff and Deputies the peace of mind knowing that they will have our full support and the resources necessary to protect us in our homes, at our place of work and at the schools our children attend. Like so many of us, our safety, public safety, is my top priority.
Homelessness and rising number of those with mental health needs has become a humanitarian crisis. The two issues are not identical, but for many of the cases, the two are intertwined. Many Ventura County residents are surprised to know that our County has been sending mental health patients to Kern and Los Angeles Counties because we lack the facilities here. That needs to change and I will work very hard to ensure families are able to be closer to their loved ones that are getting behavioral health care. It is important to begin reforms at the County so that mental health care is as common and stigma free as physical health care.
The reason East County cities incorporated is because our County government ignores the needs of East County residents. There are fewer County buildings and services here in our corner of the County along the 118 Freeway. Our residents often have to travel across the County to get permits or take advantage of County resources. As I had done when I represented our community for 12 years on the Ventura County Board of Education, I will continue the fight to ensure East County residents receive its fair share of County resources.
As the current Vice Chairman of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, I have been fighting to keep our taxes low and working with elected officials for our tax dollars to be spent efficiently. I will do the same as our representative at the County Board of Supervisors. I fully respect that the taxes you pay are the results of your hard work and will fight daily to eliminate waste and abuse at the County Hall of Administration.
State and Federal level politics, and of course, the pandemic has seriously damaged our local economy. Inflation is very high and seems to be increasing with no end in sight. For many Ventura County families, they have already tightened their fiscal belts and are still finding it hard to make ends meet. Many of our once successful businesses are closing or have moved away taking jobs with them. There is room for our County government to tighten its belt, and it is time our County officials to communicate to our state and federal delegation of representative that we need immediate economic, regulatory and tax relief.
I firmly believe that the best representative are not the ones that do all the talking but the ones that take the time to listen. I commit to having an open door policy and ensure that constituents and local organizations will have the opportunity to have their concerns heard in my office. I will also hold regular townhall meetings and regularly visit each corner of the district.
"Dean is a caring, compassionate and intelligent community leader, willing to listen to all sides of an issue. His tireless involvement in the community shows that he is a man of service and integrity who truly wants the best for Ventura County."
"I have known Dean for over 20 years. We worked together when i was in the State Senate. He is not only a man of conservative principles.... he is a man of action on those principles. We would be lucky to have him as our next Supervisor."