SCAG Honors the Late Carmen Ramirez for her Trailblazing Leadership

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) honored the memory of “a trailblazing leader and beloved friend” – the late Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez – by putting forward a proclamation to posthumously confer the honorary title of Regional Council President, In Memoriam, and rename a popular scholarship after her.

Ms. Ramirez, who served as SCAG’s Regional Council First Vice President, was tragically killed on August 12, 2022, in a pedestrian-vehicle accident in Oxnard. She previously served on the Oxnard City Council before being elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2020. She was the first Latina to serve on the Board and was Chair at the time of her death.

According to the proclamation presented at SCAG’s Regional Council meeting on Thursday, Ms. Ramirez could receive the posthumous title of Regional Council President, In Memoriam, in 2023-2024 – the year she would have served in the position. In addition, the annual SCAG Scholarship awarded in Ventura County will be renamed the “Carmen Ramirez Memorial Scholarship.”

“The region has lost a tremendous woman and a skillful leader. Our hearts go out to Carmen’s family, as well as the many others who knew and loved her,” said Regional Council President Jan Harnik.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of First Vice President Ramirez and extend our deepest sympathies to her husband, Roy, her family and the many people she has touched,” said Executive Director Kome Ajise. “We will miss her leadership beyond measure. She cared deeply about her community and made an unforgettable impact during her legal and elected career.”

The proclamation notes that Ms. Ramirez “spent her life in dedicated service to her community, championing sustainability, mobility and equity, and tirelessly supporting numerous local civic organizations.” Among those groups were the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Community Foundation, Ventura County Transportation Commission, Camarillo and Oxnard Airport Authorities, and the Center for Civic Education.

At SCAG, Ms. Ramirez was a long-time member of the Regional Council and served on the he Energy and Environment Committee, where she made significant contributions to the coordination of regional planning issues to improve quality of life for the region’s residents.

“Ms. Ramirez was a trailblazing leader and beloved friend whose kindness, intelligence and tenacity enriched all those fortunate enough to know and work with her,” the resolution states.