My name is Gabe Teran (he/him/él), and I currently and proudly serve as the Oxnard City Councilmember for District 2. I have also been fortunate to serve as Mayor Pro Tem in 2025 and 2026.
I am a nearly life-long resident of the City of Oxnard. My family has been in Oxnard for over 100 years, and my children are fourth generation Oxnard residents. This is a town that I know and love.
In my lifetime, I have seen many changes come to Oxnard - many are positive, many are ongoing challenges. Identifying and addressing the challenges while highlighting the positive has become a personal mission. In making this my mission, I recognize that I cannot do this alone. Engaging my fellow residents and our community is a key ingredient - one that our city must continue in order to reach its full potential.
The combination of my ability to engage people, my capacity to facilitate positive community change, and my relevant education and work experience make me the best choice to continue to represent our District.
City
Involvement
Chair, Fremont South Neighborhood Council
Jun 2018 - Feb 2021
Elected by neighborhood residents
Engage residents and hold open and inclusive public meetings to allow communication between the neighborhood and the City of Oxnard
Act as liaison between neighborhood residents and City staff
Preside over all regular and special meetings of the General Membership and of the Executive Board
Appoint and dissolve committees
Respond to questions concerning procedures and business of the Neighborhood Council
Attend INCO General Membership meetings as a voting member
Vice Chair, Oxnard Inter Neighborhood Council Organization (INCO)
Nov 2018 - Nov 2020
Elected by peer-level Neighborhood Council Chairs
Facilitate meetings as Chair in Chairperson’s absence
Aid in development of INCO General
Membership meetings
Conduct special projects as assigned by INCO General Membership or INCO Chair
Present on special projects to General Membership and the public
Engage the public and neighborhoods for continuous improvement of the Neighborhood Council system
Commissioner,
Parks, Recreation, & Community Services Commission
2017 - 2021
Advise the Oxnard City Council on all matters pertaining to parks, recreation, and community services activity in the city
Serve as a liaison between City Council and the community in aforementioned jurisdictional areas
Advise city staff on future parks and recreation programming
Provide opportunities for public input on aforementioned jurisdictional areas
My Priority Areas
Continued City Improvement and Progress
Since my election in 2022, perhaps you've noticed the ongoing improvements in maintenance of our city's services, including parks, playgrounds, landscaping, roads, and our recreation services. This is is due to your City Council's dedication to both improving and maintaining these vital services.
I am proud to have been part of the solution in bringing many of enhancing these services and improving quality of life for our residents. Our residents deserve a city they can truly be proud to call, "home."
Investing in Our Youth
The entirety of my 20-year career has been dedicated to serving Ventura County youth - especially our youth who come from challenging life circumstances, and don't always get opportunities for positive support.
I have studied, researched, and developed programming locally and across the state to best serve young people.
Investing in today's youth can prevent and reduce our need in the future for services such as juvenile probation, intervention programs, and drug treatment.
Solutions-Oriented, Resident Inclusion
By nature, I am a person who wants to work hand-in-hand with people to problem-solve what's in front of us. This is why over the last 4 years, you have likely seen me at your local Neighborhood Council meetings; walking and biking through streets and alleys in the District; or engaging directly with residents on social media. I can better and fully understand a problem when I can see it firsthand and speak to those experiencing it.
Time and again, I have worked directly with your community leaders to address neighborhood issues head on, and hand-in-hand - and will continue to do so.
Career
I have spent much of my nearly 25-year career working with our local school districts, municipalities, and our county government. Part of my work has charged me with working collaboratively with front line staff, administrators, and elected officials. I not only have a deep handle on the structure and function of local government, but I have also trained youth and adult educators, statewide, in how to work with these multiple levels of government and support community health and wellness initiatives.
From a personal perspective, I have spent nearly all of my life living in the City of Oxnard and in District 2. In previously serving as a Neighborhood Council Chair, I have also come to know each Neighborhood Council Chair in the District and have positive working relationships with each of them. My longtime District 2 residency, combined with collaborative and solutions-oriented work, allows us all to work together for the betterment of each District 2 community.
2022 - 2026 - Business owner doing health education, wellness, youth development and advocacy training and consulting
2008 - 2022 - Ventura County Office of Education, Operations Specialist Comprehensive Health and Prevention Programs Department
2003 - 2008 - Pacifica High School, Youth Advocate (Contracted) Title IV Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Grant
2002-2008 - Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) of Ventura County, Inc.,
Counselor, Adolescent Substance Use Disorders Treatment
Education
2017 – 2018
Western Governors University
- Master of Science, Management and Leadership
2014 – 2016
Western Governors University
- Bachelor of Science, Information Technology
2007 – 2008
Oxnard College
- Associate’s Degree in Addictive Disorders Studies
- Completed Addictive Disorder Studies program 2002
- Dean’s List and consistent 3.73 GPA
1998 – 2002
Oxnard College
2000 – 2001
Oxnard High School
1998 – 2001
Adolfo Camarillo High School
