Chief's Advisory BOARD

The Filipino American Council of Ventura County made history in 2017 when they elected Grace Tuazon as its youngest and first female Executive Director to lead 14 Filipino Organizations in Ventura County. Prior to being elected as Executive Director, Grace held the position of Deputy Director and Secretary for the Filipino American Council of Ventura County. Grace is also a Community Board Member and Healthy Communities Committee Member for Dignity Health Ventura County, Chief Advisory Board Member for the Oxnard Police Department and Parliamentarian for Filipino Community Ventura County. She held other leadership positions such as Board Member for PhilCenter and The Arts Collaborative. Grace has also chaired numerous committees such as Salute to the Graduates and Scholarship Committee for the Filipino Community Ventura County, Fiestas Filipinas and Leadership Recognition and Awards Ceremony for the Filipino American Council of Ventura County and has been involved with local nonprofit organizations such as El Concilio and the Pinkard Youth Institute. Grace currently works in Human Resources with the Oxnard Union High School District and continues to be active within her community, expanding her professional and personal sphere, and promoting growth and the advancement of Filipinos in her community.

Manuel Munoz is the longest-serving member of the Chief's Advisory Board, having been on the board since its creation in 1999 by then Police Chief Art Lopez.  Manuel is currently the Publisher/Director of Vida Newspaper.  Vida provides local news to Ventura County, and promotes a positive image, spotlights excellence among in the community. Vida's editorial content educates, informs and creates an awareness of our cultures, entertainment and social developments.   Manuel can be contacted by email at vidanews@aol.com.

Vince Stewart is the 3rd Vice President for the  Ventura County Chapter of the NAACP. The Chair of the  Board of Directors of  Community Action of Ventura County. The March and Plaza Park Activity Coordinator for the MLK Jr. Committee of Ventura County. I am the past chair of the Juneteenth Celebration. I am the board secretary of the Oxnard Performing Art Center Nonprofit. I am an Oxnard City Cultural Arts Commissioner. And former Chair of the Oxnard Planning Commission. I am a member of the board of directors of the Community Advocacy Coalition (CAC) and 99.3 FM Radio Station. I am the Vice Chair of the Ventura County Civil Service Commission. I am a delegate for the 19th California State Senate District. I am currently enrolled at Oxnard College majoring in Chemical Engineering and will transfer Spring 2022. I am a past Oxnard Police Reserve Commander and VCCCD Police Officer. And retired System Security Engineer Sr. from Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Vince can be reached by email at: stewartvr7@aol.com, or by phone at (805)822-4167.

Manuel Herrera was born and raised in Oxnard and grew up in La Colonia area.  He is a graduate of Channel Islands High School. Manuel states, "Growing up in a low income household of 14, (12 kids, 2 parents) and under the welfare system, I quickly learned the importance of giving back to my community.  This is why I dedicate most of my time volunteering."

His previous & current involvement in the community includes; Board Member for the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, creator of Citizens for a Better Oxnard, President of La Colonia Youth Boxing Association, Commissioner for the Oxnard Community Relations Commission, Chairperson for the Oxnard Multicultural Festival, organizer of the “A” Street Cruise Nights in Downtown Oxnard, wish granter for The Make A Wish Foundation, graduate of the Oxnard Police Citizens Academy, & volunteer with the Ojai Raptor Center.

Jeannette Cortez is a lifelong Oxnard resident. For the past 68 years she has been passionate and proud of Oxnard.  In her words, "My experience as a young single parent encouraged me to recognize the value of an education and community."  After attending college, Jeannette worked for the Ventura County Courts, Probation, and Health Departments.  Her professional career began at California Lutheran University as an Upward Bound Program counselor, before moving on to work at Oxnard College, where she worked as a Counselor Assistant for 23 years.  While at Oxnard College,  she co-founded the Oxnard College Youth Conference.  The conference provided high school students with the ability to experience a college setting for a day.  The conference was successful due to the partnership of many community leaders and organizations who provided workshops.  Jeannette retired in 2010 but remains active in the community.  Jeannette believes in promoting education at all levels, and safety in our community.  If you would like to contact Jeannette, her email address is  jcortez2852@gmail.com.

Oxnard born and raised, Ted Lawrence currently serves as the Principal of Pacifica High School, where he relishes the opportunity to educate, inspire, and serve the youth of Oxnard. Prior to his arrival at Pacifica High School, Ted served the students of Oxnard High School for 20 years as an English teacher, coach, department chair, Athletic Director, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal.  He can be reached by email at ted.lawrence@oxnardunion.org and can be found on Twitter @Triton Principal.

Randy Latimer is a lifelong Oxnard resident and a Hueneme High School graduate.  Randy entered into a life of public safety service in the footsteps of this father, James Latimer (the first African American police officer in the city of Oxnard).  The Latimer family has an established legacy and tradition of dedication to our community.

During his 30 years of service with the Oxnard Police Department, Randy worked is way up the ranks in a variety of assignments, including bicycle patrol, SWAT, Traffic, School Resource Officers, recruiting and hiring, internal affairs, and patrol.  He also served as an investigator on an FBI task force.  During his time with the Oxnard Police Department, he maintained a close bond with our community, especially with our youth.  He served as a football coach and on the Police Activity League's (PAL) nonprofit board, and as a member of Oxnard Kiwanis. He retired in 2017 at the rank of Commander.

Since retirement, Randy has remained active in our community and is currently the Police Activity League’s nonprofit board president. He also serves on the Board of Directors of DRAGG (Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti – an afterschool youth program), and has since opened his own security and event management consulting company. 

Randy feels that being an active part of our community is important and that his role on the Chief’s Advisory Board allows him the opportunity to help the Oxnard Police Department continue its longstanding commitment to Protecting Our Community with Exceptional Service.

Paul Lemos is an Oxnard Native and a Vietnam veteran, having served in the US Army's 1st Cavalry.  He has been actively involved in local sports for 45 years, and was Oxnard's Northside Little League President from 1980 to 1989.  During the 1990s, he served as president of athletic boosters for Hueneme High and Channel Islands School. From 2004-2014, Paul served as an Oxnard Parks and Recreation Commissioner.  Paul has been, is, and will be truly committed to his beautiful City of Oxnard from beginning to end.

Alicia E. Llinnas was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. From childhood, she was interested in the arts, and became involved in a program called "Cachirulo", where she met many broadcasting legends. She graduated from the National Technical Announcer in Mexico City in 1972, and has since dedicated her professional career to multiple broadcasting stations in the United States and Mexico.  Alicia is determined to continue to help and inspire local Youth and vulnerable populations.

Adam has been a resident of Oxnard since 2000. He has been married to his wife Cristal for over 15 years and they have one daughter (Aislinn). He is very active in his church, the Oxnard Revival Center, and community. Here is a list of roles he actively fills (and the years he started in them): Community Relations Liaison - Revive Community Church (2011), Commissioner - City of Oxnard - Community Relations Commission (2017), Board of Directors for County Schools Federal Credit Union - (2019), Board of Directors for Action VC - (2018), Chief of Police Advisory Board (2018), O.P.D. Interfaith Council (2018), VC-ASH member (2016), Smoke Free Multiunit Housing Task Force  (2019), & Government and External Affairs Liaison - Apostolic Assembly (2019).

Pastor Greg Runyon is a bi-vocational Pastor of Gold Coast Fellowship and he also is a Consultant with Ventura County Children & Family Services.  Greg has overcome addiction, criminality and prison incarcerations through his faith and serving the community. He also was a consultant with the City of Oxnard regarding prisoner re-entry. He and his wife, Catherine, recently celebrated their 25th anniversary.  Feel free to contact him at (805) 844-7299 or via email at gregrunyon@ymail.com.

Gabriela Rodriguez is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and California Lutheran University with a Masters in Education with a Guidance Counselor Credential. Ms. Rodriguez worked in the non-profit sector for 10-years running a local leadership development organization for high school students, Future Leaders of America. 

Gabriela Rodriguez has over 15 years of experience working to reduce the academic achievement gap and school to prison pipeline. In 2005, she coordinated youth international programs in Mexico City, including conversations about immigration, poverty, and education with Mexican Congressmembers.

In 2007, she was selected as one of the local representatives to participate in the Gamaliel International Leadership Assembly & Heartland Presidential Forum were students from Oxnard had the experience to discuss important issues with candidates such as President Barack Obama and John Edwards at the nonpartisan Presidential Forum.

Gabriela is a trainer in Domestic Violence Prevention/Intervention, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Alcohol and Drug prevention, Asset Development, Service-learning, among others. She is involved with the Oxnard Monday Club, LUCHA, Alzheimer's Association (Chair for their 2021 Walk).  She can be contacted at gabyrodriguez09@gmail.com.

Alberto Santana, born and raised in Oxnard and has resided in the City of Oxnard for 53 years. He has worked for the Department of Defense at Point Mugu for the past 32 years. He has coached at the youth and high school levels for the past 35 years.  He believes that a well-manned police department that is supported by the community will go a long way towards making our city a safe place for all of the residents and visitors.  Please feel free to email him at cokrisdad@hotmail.com with your questions and concerns.  

Dr. Tejada is a life-long Oxnard resident, and is the Professor of Leadership Studies, Kinesiology, at California State University, Channel Islands. In the past, he has served as the Director of Ventura County LULAC, District 17 (Oxnard Colonia Council). He can be reached by email at: ramon.tejada@csuci.edu  or ramon.tejadajr@roadrunner.com; or by phone at (805) 216-5756

Reverend Dr. Freda Wiggins, is a Wife, mother, sister, grandmother, Spiritual Life Coach, Author, and Pastor of His Dream Fulfilled Center in Port Hueneme, CA.  She has been a Member of the Chiefs advisory Board since 2015, and a member of the Oxnard Clergy Council.   Freda states, "It is indeed a pleasure to be a part of the Oxnard Police Department and now with the new, Chief Jason Benites  to make our communities a safer place to live.  We can also increase our effectiveness when we collaborate and intentionally establish relationships with social services, schools, government, and law enforcement and media. Thank you for the opportunity to serve."

Alicia Flores was born in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.  She immigrated into the United states in 1965, and is now a naturalized United States citizen, and a mother of five children and ten grandchildren. 

Alicia is an advocate for our immigrant community, and for social justice.  She has been a longtime resident of Oxnard, and was raised in the La Colonia neighborhood.  During her teenage years, she worked in the agricultural fields.  She later became a business owner of a convenience market for fifteen years.  Since 2005, Alicia has been the Executive Director of La Hermandad Hank Lacayo Youth & Family Center.  She is an accredited representative under the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Access Programs.  

Bio info here