MAC challenger offers emergency preparedness skills

Derek Ross Derek Ross, a member of Oak Park's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), is running for an open seat on the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council in hopes of raising awareness about disaster preparedness.

"We need to create a community of first responders," said Ross, who has received formal training in the field. "We can't rely on the sheriff and fire departments. In the event of some sort of major disaster we need to make sure that there truly is a coordinated relationship between all of the individual communities that make up Oak Park."

Ross would like to see a junior response team created at Oak Park High School. He'd also like to encourage homeowners associations and businesses to work together on emergency preparedness as well as finding solutions to community problems.

"There are all of these little subcommittees in Oak Park. Now more than ever we need to be communicating with one another," Ross said. "We need to make sure that we've got the ability to combine our resources and take advantage of all of the wonderful people that live around us."

Ross suggests creating a consortium of Chamber of Commerce members, students, business owners and residents who would meet throughout the year to discuss issues.

"It's really neat to see this small community where everybody cares figuring out solutions to what I would call big-city problems. We've rallied together in regards to crime because we banded together as a community," Ross said.

Ross completed the Ventura County Sheriff 's Department citizen's academy in 2004 and became a Volunteer in Policing. While volunteering at the Olsen Street police station, he learned about the CERT program for Oak Park. He joined in 2005 and went through the Thousand Oaks disaster response program (DART) two years later.

"DART really gave me strong skills and allows me to now go out and help people other than in my community," Ross said.

While campaigning, Ross said he's heard comments about speeding in the neighborhoods and parking by Chabad members in front of the homes of residents.

"Some residents are really mad that they can't park in front of their homes and want Chabad to leave," Ross said. "It's hard to discipline yourself to remove emotion from the decision-making process, but we need good communication and problem solving."

Ross earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Antioch University in Santa Barbara. After graduation he rented an apartment in Oak Park to be near his parents and his job in Calabasas.

He and his wife Lauren live in the Montego tract, where Ross serves on the homeowners association board and assists with community safety preparedness. The Rosses are also members of the Measure R school bond committee.

Ross is an insurance risk manager with the C.M. Meiers Company in Woodland Hills. He helps local businesses establish evacuation plans and safety/emergency kits in the event of a disaster. He earned an award this year from the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West for outstanding contributions to political action programs.

His parents and grandparents were active community volunteers as well.

"Derek Ross has demonstrated a strong commitment to the community by serving on both the Oak Park CERT and Thousand Oaks DART teams, as well as other community groups," said Mike Paule, the MAC vice chair. "He is a highly motivated and intelligent individual who would be a positive addition to the Oak Park MAC, if elected."