2023 Candidate Statements

Chatsworth Neighborhood Council Listed in Ballot Order

Note:  You will be able to vote for up to 11 candidates.

Jim Van Gundy

My name is Jim Van Gundy.  I have made Chatsworth my home since 2006.   I am a member of the Chatsworth Coordinating Council, Santa Susana Mountain Park Association, and I serve as the Treasurer for the Chatsworth Historical Society. 

First elected to the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council in October 2010, I have served as a member on the Public Safety and Transportation, Land Use, and Outreach Committees.   

As a member, and Chair of the Outreach Committee I have been involved with the Day of the Horse, Family Festival, COLT Bike Ride, Pioneer Day, Disaster Preparedness Fair, Chatsworth Parade, Garden Festival, and the Valley Alliance of NC’s. 

I worked for the State of California for 29 years.   While employed, I volunteered as a coach in both Little League baseball and Youth Soccer for my 2 children.  Since retiring I volunteered at the Lutheran Social Services food bank and with Habitat for Humanity.   

I got involved with CNC because of the proposed housing development on Andora that threatened valuable open space near the Santa Susana State Park.  Our activism reduced the size of that development from 48 houses down to 33. Chatsworth is threatened by the housing crisis and an agenda dictated by legislators from other areas of the State.  Through our work on Land Use and Outreach Committees I would like to continue making a difference for the people and community of Chatsworth.

Eugene Butler

I’ve been a homeowner in Chatsworth since 2012.  I’ve work in the entertainment industry for over thirty years and still do so.  I came from the city into the Valley and have grown to love Chatsworth and the people of Chatsworth.  I believe that we are a unique bunch, and my work, should I be fortunate enough to be elected, would be to keep Chatsworth’s uniqueness, its environment beautiful and its people safe.               

Sincerely,                                                                     

Eugene Butler

Shelly Thompson

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and have been a proud resident of Chatsworth since 2013.  My husband owns a small business in Chatsworth. I received my Bachelor Arts in English Literature (’90) and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (’10) from CSU, Northridge (CSUN). I am currently the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Studies at CSUN; a leadership position that I have held since 2012. My entire professional career at CSUN spans 33 years, throughout which time I have dedicated myself to supporting student success as both an academic advisor and public university administrator.

I am a member of the CSUN Alumni Association, National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and the Chatsworth Historical Society. I am dedicated to keeping Chatsworth a clean and safe community. I volunteer to pick up trash in Chatsworth and pick up litter while enjoying walks around our neighborhood with a friend. I frequently report graffiti, street light outages, illegal dumping and excessive trash to our public agencies so we can continue to enjoy our public spaces. Chatsworth is a beautiful community and together, we can keep it that way.

I am excited to run for a seat on the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council and look forward to this new opportunity to serve the public as I prepare to retire from CSUN this summer.

Shilpa Gupta

I am a successful product of Chatsworth. My parents immigrated and settled here with three girls of elementary school age. Being the eldest child and first generation immigrant I ventured through elementary, middle, and high school in Chatsworth. I witnessed my neighborhood emerge from the ’94 Earthquake’s “ghost town” to the commercial center and tv’s “small town” depiction that it is today on many web series and movies. 

I, currently, work of LA City as an Environmental Supervisor. I want to work for you too. I want to be the voice of the community that has helped shaped my identity in becoming new kind of Valley Girl. Oh I am so proud of it! A community where just like me, children walk to and from school, can participate in afterschool activities, and work at businesses or volunteer in churches, temples, and hospitals. I want to us to continue to have better air tomorrow than today; less traffic congestion; and more safety. Cleanliness and safety will bring more local businesses, deter petty crime, and promote community wellness. 

The Chatsworth community has raised me. Please help me raise you higher in the Los Angeles City’s stage of governance so that our small town can be heard.

Melissa Garcia

Hello, Neighbors!

I am a first-generation Peruvian-American who has lived in Chatsworth for more than fifteen years. I’m running for Chatsworth Neighborhood Council because I bring unique, professional experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

I have worked with a multitude of populations, including Veterans, persons struggling with substance use and addiction, persons struggling with mental illness, persons struggling with homelessness, persons struggling with poverty, persons struggling with crime (both victims of crime and/or those with a history of crime), LGBTQ+ persons, children, older adults, immigrants, refugees, and more. I have dedicated my career to serving others and as a member of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, I would continue to serve our beautiful community with compassion and tangible solutions. 

I believe it is important to for us to feel safe and empowered in our community. Having worked with people from all walks of life, I understand what is needed to improve socioeconomic conditions and matters pertaining to qualify of life. Chatsworth is such a special community because it is filled with a diverse group of people who genuinely care about each other. I want to use my critical thinking and interpersonal skills to address the issues that most concern us, such as public safety, addiction, homelessness, and mental health. As a frontline social worker, I tend to meet people when they are in crisis. I know how to stay calm and problem-solve. I hope you will elect me to use my skills as a CNC member.

Gratefully,

Melissa Garcia, LCSW

Rebecca “Becky” Leveque

The three most important things in my life can be boiled down to family, community and caring about others. 

Here are a few highlights of my community activities:

  • My late husband, Dave, and I had a family business on Devonshire Street in Chatsworth for over 27 years, Leveque Insurance Services
  • Being in Chatsworth all the time led me to join the Chatsworth Historical Society, the CNC and the Chamber of commerce
  • I worked with LAPD to establish the Chatsworth Neighborhood Watch program, which is has been a strong voice for our community since 1990
  • I am Co-Founder of SOLID (Supporters Of Law Enforcement in Devonshire) and have been a member since its inception.
  • I have been involved in the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council
  • I helped to lay the foundation for the acquisition, planning and development of the Porter Ranch Community K-8 Span School, which has a Korean dual language component
  • In my professional life I am a Dental Practice Administrator and am currently a Life, Health and Disability  Insurance Agent
  • Most importantly, I have 3 sons.  They and their wives have blessed me with 8 beautiful grandchildren

The Chatsworth community has played a large role in our family and  business lives which is why I would like to give back to Chatsworth some of the beautiful gifts they have given to us.

Again, my name is Becky Leveque and I am asking for your vote!

Tracey Jennings

My name is Tracey Jennings and I have lived in Chatsworth since 1994.   I care about the community; it has changed over the years and not for the best.  I have been blessed to raise my two sons in Chatsworth.  They went to Oakridge Pre-School on Topanga, Germain Elementary, Chime Middle School, Lawrence Middle School, and Chatsworth High School.

I am a local Real Estate agent and I enjoy helping people.  Over the years I have join many organizations volunteering my time when needed.   I would be honored to join the neighborhood council.

Dan Aranda

I am a homeowner in the city of Chatsworth. I work professionally at an aerospace company. I engage with business owners in the Chatsworth area. I participate in hiking, bicycling and swimming with neighbors. I am an empty nester that wants to become involved in the local community. My daughter is in college. I feel I can become a loyal and dedicated representative of our neighborhood council.

Hector M. Ramirez

I am Apache and Mexican. My family and I live on the ancestral lands of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians in the city of Chatsworth.  I am a person with a disability & work with city, county, state, and federal bodies to develop & implement legislative and policy initiatives to improve the lives of all people with disabilities. 

I am running for the neighborhood council because I want all of our diverse populations and stakeholders to have representation on this neighborhood council to contribute to the process and solutions that are needed to tackle the most pressing issues impacting our neighborhood.

Since day 1 of the COVID-19 emergency, I have worked alongside our state agencies to develop and deploy emergency COVID-19 response services throughout the state. Currently I serve on Governor Newson Behavioral Health Task Force, the California Commission for Disability Access, and the LA County Department of Health Community Prevention and Population Health Task Force. I have also volunteered and worked together with my local food pantry at the Congregational Church of Chatsworth to ensure that Seniors, Veterans,  unhoused, and disabled people have access to emergency foods, PPE, testing, and COVID-19 vaccination services. 

I have been successful in all of this work because I am committed to keeping our communities informed about neighborhood council activities and decisions and will work with all stakeholders to gather and respond to their feedback as we work together to continue making Chatsworth a great city to live, play, learn, and work.

Gus Dominguez

Hello, my name is Gustavo Dominguez. I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. I work in the entertainment industry doing lighting, this industry helped me work with others and think on my feet to achieve one goal or vision. As a lighting designer now, I deal with labor, budgets, and vendors. In this industry we are always trying to do something different and stay within our budget. It’s a great blend of artistry and practicality. I love Chatsworth for a few reasons, it is frozen in time and there’s a nostalgia here. It needs to be woken up and brought back to life. It has an identity like no other city in the Valley. A quiet western town that embraces the outdoors, the arts, and has a slower pace.

Jill Mather

Thank you for considering me for reelection as a board member for the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.  I have served one term.

During that term (and as a member of the Beautification Committee) I was responsible for organizing the Beautification projects once a month in coop with my nonprofit organization Volunteers Cleaning Communities, of which I am the president and founder.

I also started a monthly CNC Newsletter in order to inform the community of the activities available and accomplishments of the council.

I serve as the current Secretary of the council.

Personally I am dedicated to the Chatsworth community through volunteerism.  I an a board member of the Chatsworth Kiwanis, a member of the Chatsworth Porter Ranch Chamber and a member of the Chatsworth Women’s Club.  

Professionally to further my nonprofit, VCC, I serve as a board member of Keep La Beautiful, board member of the North Valley Regional Chamber, a member of Granada Hills Chamber and board president of Stevenson Ranch HOA.

As founder of VCC, I lead volunteers throughout the valley to clean our streets, highways, illegal dump sites and abandoned homeless encampments 5-6 times a week – this year alone we removed almost 10,000 bags of trash from the streets equally approximately 153,000 lbs!

I was honored as Chatsworth Citizen of the Year in 2022 and VCC was awarded California nonprofit of the year in 2022.

If reelected as a board member, I would continue to serve our community with pride, dedication and enthusiasm.

Karen Kikalo

Hi Neighbors!  My name is Karen Kikalo and I am running for Chatsworth Neighborhood Council. As a life-long resident of the San Fernando Valley and a CSUN alum, I’m proud to have lived, worked and raised my family right here in our community. It’s a truly special place – and I’m incredibly excited by this opportunity to help make our neighborhood the very best it can be.

Over the years, I’ve served our community in many different ways – from my career as a neighborhood realtor, to volunteering for school fundraisers and PTO positions, to organizing community events such as canned food and “One Warm Coat” drives. I know what it’s like to bring up kids and build a home here – and on a daily basis in my job I hear firsthand from others doing the same. This includes the thoughts and perspectives of new home buyers thrilled to join our neighborhood as well as Chatsworth veterans ready to move on for various reasons and seek their next adventure. I look forward to bringing these unique insights and my knowledge of current events and issues in the area to the Council, and I’m committed to advocating for the needs of our community.

With your support, I’m confident I can make a real difference in our neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration!

Don Lyon

I was raised in Chatsworth, among the Orange Groves, Walnut Orchards, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, The Skeet Range and 9 hole golf course which is now Chats Park South and the Condo complex

We walked the Santa Suzanna’s, came across Indian caves and hieroglyphics , Palmers Lake was really a small lake above, yes above the current park scheme.

There is so much history to Chatsworth that makes Chatsworth; we need to re-invigorate that

There was also a wholesomeness to the whole community. That is why people moved here. Kids could play outdoors in the neighborhood, ride bikes/horses and always be safe for we were “neighbors” and were genuinely neighborly

Candidly that is a partial responsibility of the Neighborhood Council. So if you’d prefer someone who desires to retain and improve Chatsworth to that wholesomeness vote for me. Thanks Don

Robert Glucksman

I have been a resident in our Beautiful Chatsworth for over 30+ years

I have seen this once beautiful city with its Horses, & clean streets, to being reduced to shop owners & horse properties, going away. 

I stand with the people that want our streets back, that people can walk the streets, or go shopping with out any worries

I stand with the majority of the people that want our city to have the feel that we once had

Thank You to those that believed in Me for My 1st term. I hope that I have lived up to the job. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Chatsworth

Thank You

Carey Tri

Hi. My name is Carey Tri. 

I am a 20+ year Chatsworth resident and homeowner.  I am retired and have already served a 2-year term with the CNC.  I am not only a CNC Board member, but I have also served in the Land Use & Equestrian Committee as well as the Enhancement & Beautification Committee.     

I would like to continue my efforts in improving Chatsworth and become even more involved in our community. 

I grew up with horses and I am passionate about preserving the historic

and equestrian character of Chatsworth. 

I am a volunteer with the SSPSHP helping to protect Chatsworth State

Historic Park.  I am also a member of the LAPD Valley Volunteer Cavalry Unit where we provide eyes and ears to officers at community events for LAPD Devonshire Division.

I look forward to continuing my support for our unique and

diverse Chatsworth community.  Thank you for your vote.

Douglas Edward Nolan

I have lived in Los Angeles for 26 years. 13 of those years have been in Chatsworth. There was no Orange Line and no homeless people. Since this became a problem, I have been advocating with our city council members, METRO, Amtrak, LADOT, and Los Angeles County. I have had minor successes by establishing relationships with John Lee’s office and have gotten at least 4 people off the street. My latest endeavor is with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. I have their internal Cell phone number and they take my calls as I have shown professionalism and willingness to make an impact and they are RESPONDING. Stay tuned.

I am also going to Capitol Day in Sacramento February 6th to discuss our City’s energy needs. I am trying to introduce community solar to the City of Chatsworth.

I also have a long term dream of cleaning the streets and keeping them free from homeless, gang members, and street takeovers. I have a giant focus on the Chatsworth Train Station. When I moved here, we had bathrooms, a snack bar, and a waiting area. I would like to get all those back and add security, live entertainment, and a bridge over Devonshire connecting the train station to the Ralph’s plaza.

Chatsworth used to be an Oasis from the jungle of the city. I would like for us to have our safety and coziness back. Maybe even introduce a professional sports team.

I have plenty more ideas.

Don Larson

I work hard on the Streets of Chatsworth keeping it clean and safe. I will apply my know how to the Council 

Nicolas Montaño

I’ve been a member of this Counsil’s for numerous years.  Our family has been deeply engrained in our community for over 50 years.  As a server leader, I believe in working for our community.