Jess Herrera, a five-term member of the Oxnard Harbor District, the entity that runs the Port of Hueneme, has announced that he’s running for a newly created Congressional District seat in Ventura County.
Herrera, 63, is a longshoreman by trade and works as a marine clerk at the Port of Hueneme, where he helps coordinate the flow of ships and cargo. He says he’s running for the newly drawn 26th District seat in the California House of Representatives because he wants to bring jobs to the area. The new seat includes most of Ventura County, with the exception of Simi Valley.
Herrera says he has no plans to step down from the five-member commission, to which he was first elected in 1994, where he currently serves as president.
He’s the fifth person so far to enter the race. Under new California election primary rules, the top two vote getters in a June ballot go on to face off on a November ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Herrera and the other announced candidates are all Democrats.