Kelley, Bush win seats on park district board

Voters elected Camarillo attorney Robert "Buddy" Kelley and incumbent Nancy Bush to the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Board of Directors.

With over 29 percent or 5,600 votes, Bush garnered the most, followed by Kelley with almost 4,400 votes or just over 22 percent. They beat out challengers Warren Harwood, Gary Cushing and Carol Schau.

Voters returned Bush to the board for a seventh term. "I was delighted to be reelected," the small business owner said. "I feel as though the people have appreciated all the work we do."

Bush said seeing work begin and completed on the 55-acre Village at the Park sports park is a top priority along with hiring a new park superintendent.

The district took a step in that direction on Wednesday. In a special meeting, the board approved raising the monthly salary 10 percent to $6,547 for park superintendent to attract more job candidates.

The district opened the position up last month and so far has received two applications. The filing date has also been extended to Nov. 30.

"I think I have a lot of friends in Camarillo," Kelley said, a first-time candidate. "I think people understood that my message was fairly straightforward."

He said he plans to work on accomplishing all of the goals outlined in his campaign: have more recreational activities for the community, from children to seniors; get construction underway on the sports park; beef up security at the district's 27 parks; and build a gymnasium.

"I see great things for this city," he said.