Incumbents remain on park board

Gene "Hoss" Hostetler and James "Jim" Meredith will retain their seats on the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District board following Tuesday's election.

Of the 31,966 votes cast, Hostetler received 15,334 votes, or 47.97 percent, and Meredith 13,143 votes, or 41.12 percent. Challenger Samuel Lirones received 3,219 votes, or 10 percent.

"Being elected to office is always so humbling a feeling," Meredith said. "I'm very grateful of the people in our district for putting me back in."

Hostetler is a police detective in Simi Valley and has served on the board for 12 years. He worked with the park district as an umpire before deciding to run for the board in 1994.

Meredith, who's been a director for 24 years, has been actively involved in the community through sports, veterans' groups and community service organizations.

Meredith has seen the district's budget grow from $2 million to $14 million and the number of parks increase from one to five. Meredith also served while the district added an equestrian center and preversed acres of open space. He worked as an insurance salesman for Thomas International and has been retired since 1974.

Both district members are looking forward to resuming their positions.

"It's back to business as usual," Meredith said.