Andy Gilman
Director of the Agora Foundation
Why am I running now?
I grew up in Ojai and have lived and worked here most of my life. I am now very worried about our home and feel compelled to act.
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Rising prices from outside demand and internal pressures contributing to our departing middle-class families, housing insecurity, and a growing median age are forcing us to face hard truths. Doing nothing and just saying no will not preserve what we cherish and celebrate about living in the Ojai Valley.
In addition to these concerns, many of us are troubled that we have a City Council that polarizes our community; works inefficiently with each other, the city, the county, and public agencies; and spends precious hours digging ideological trenches and sowing distrust. It's painful to watch, and we are all paying the price.
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For all of our residents to flourish,
we embrace:
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Listening
Cooperation
Hard Work
Compromise
Transparency
Honesty
Planning
Compassion
Respect
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NEXT EVENTS: Monday, September 30 I will be in Libbey Park from 3:30-5:00PM. Then Thursday, October 3, I will be at the Community Farmers Market from 3:00-4:45PM. On Wednesday, October 9, from 7:00-7:45PM at Kent Hall, come to the Candidate Debate held by the League of Women Voters.
On Friday, September 20, I was interviewed Dr. Jim Halverson on the Future of Ojai.
Links to Recent Political Writing:
Tuesday, September 10 interview with the
Ojai Valley News
Our community needs to trust our City Council again.
Ojai can be an example of unity in our divided national politics.
I am passionate and committed to this goal.
About
Andy Gilman
My family, Gilmans on my father's side and Melleins on my mother's, have been here since 1958.
I attended Topa Topa, Matilija, Nordhoff, Chaparral, Ventura College, Cal Arts (commuted to Valencia while working here), and then St. John's College in New Mexico for graduate school.
My teenage work history began at Grey Gables (now The Gables), cleaning the carpets at Bayless Market (now Big Westridge), cooking at Sea Fresh, and waiting tables at Wheeler Hot Springs, among many other adventures. I worked at BST on Bryant Circle for 18 years, Oak Grove School for 9 years, and have been the Director of the Agora Foundation since 2006, full time since 2018. I'm blessed by my lovely wife
Kate Komaiko, my sister Felicia, my father Andy, three fantastic adult children - Nici, Sinead, and Noah,
and a new grandchild Ezra!
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My career and interests have offered me many inspiring opportunities to grow:
Facilitated / participated in over 1,000 great books seminars, of the East and the West, both online and onsite for adults, including training teachers
Facilitated / produced / participated in over 35 civil discourse panels and interviews on local and national issues, including water and tourism
Created and managed budgets, both large and small, working with vendors and contractors, leading teams and stakeholders to achieve annual goals
Managed grant writing, fundraising, data analysis, event planning, and
communications, including print and web design, social media, and writing