Certified Candidates

(Listed in Random Ballot Order)

Rudy Schultz:

Hello. My name is Rudy Schultz and I’m running for a position as a Chatsworth Neighborhood Council member.
I’m a resident of Lake Manor and my wish is to have representation for this and surrounding areas of Chatsworth.
I’m a retired Law Enforcement Officer and a Viet Nam veteran.
My belief is that a community is only as good as those who serve it.
My main focus is with public safety. This not only includes Police, but also Fire Department Services. As most of you may know our community is served by two Law Enforcement agencies, Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
I feel that my past experience as a Chatsworth Neighborhood Council member and my current position as a volunteer Chaplain for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as well as the Pastor of the Chatsworth Cowboy Church are definite assets for this position.

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Lucie Volotzky: 

I have been living in Chatsworth since 1984, married with 4 children and have ran my own business for 31 years, I have been involved with the community ever since. I’m the coordinator for CERT serving District 15, also the founder of the OK Help signs that you can see throughout our city.

My involvement with Chatsworth Neighborhood Council has been very productive. I Chaired Public Transportation and Safety that also gave me the opportunities to gather CERT Classes among other things. I have also been a member of Chatsworth Kiwanis and am a board member on the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce. I’m looking forward to serve another term to promote the program that we have in place to educate how to be prepared for emergencies of any kind.

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Andre van der Valk:

I am a 46 year resident of Chatsworth
Married 48 years with 3 children and 7 grandchildren, all of whom are active in Chatsworth activities
Involved with CNC since its inception
Co-President of the Chatsworth Historical Society
My family owns and operates several small businesses in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
I have coached sports and involved with Boy Scouts in Chatsworth since the 1970s
Graduated from Public schools, CSUN and a MBA from Pepperdine
Own residential and commercial property locally
Current President of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council
Chair of the Design Review Board
Chatsworth Citizen of the Year 2001-2002
Service Award Chatsworth Chamber 2014
I would like to continue working with the CNC in order to represent my neighbors, friends and family wishes for a better Chatsworth.  I will continue to be a reasonable voice at a time that local politics are not representative of our Community.

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Sheldon Itzkowitz:  (No Statement)

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Tracey Pomerance-Poirier:

I purchased my first home in the Chatsworth Lake area 32 years ago, in 1986.

I’ve the hiked local trails, rode bikes around Chatsworth Reservoir, played tennis at Chatsworth Park South and rode the Metrolink from the Chatsworth Station when I worked downtown.

I witnessed Summit Ridge being built, attended the opening of the Chatsworth Train Station, provided input for the design of the new Chatsworth Library, and saw the closure of beloved local farms.

My kids attended local schools from pre-school to High school: Mason Park Preschool, Chatsworth Park Elementary, Lawrence Middle School, and Chatsworth High.

Thirty-two years in Chatsworth gives me an-depth perspective of our community. Having worked for the California Legislature and Project Restore, and having served as President of: San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center’s Board, Temple Judea’s Sisterhood, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Chatsworth Park Elementary’s PTA, I will serve our Chatsworth community effectively.

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Jim Van Gundy:

I was first elected to the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council in October 2010.  I got involved because of a proposed housing development that threatened, and continues to threaten, open space near the Santa Susana State Park. During my 7+ years on NC I have served two years as a member on the Public Safety and Transportation Committee.  The last 5 years I have been on the Land Use Committee.  I have been a member of the Outreach Committee all 7 years.  I have been the chair of the Outreach Committee for the last 4 years.

I moved to Chatsworth from northern California in 2006.  Chatsworth has become my home.  I am a member of the Chatsworth Coordinating Council and I am on the Board of directors of the Chatsworth Historical Society.

I have been involved with Day of the Horse, Chamber Family Festival, COLT bike Ride and Health Walk, and more.

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Cher Bentley:

You likely know me from Chatsworth’s successful community Facebook page, CHATSWORTH NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE, or you may know me as one of your newly elected Chatsworth Neighborhood Council Board Members voted in during the recent interim Selection.  If community members and am extremely active in gaining involvement from them, whether it be with community clean-ups, voicing opinions, showing up for Board and committee meetings, you are familiar with me, you know I have a strong voice that represents our or community gatherings where we get to know each other.  I believe the key to a safer and better community is one where we know one another, look out for one another and commit to each other to make our area great.  I believe in this past year, we’ve done that within our community and am proud of everyone’s hard work.  I hope you will allow me to continue to represent you.

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Mark Lauterman:

Who is my neighbor, the Good Samaritan or Neighborhood Watch?  Jesus is the Wonderful  Counsellor, of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.  Isaiah fifty eight seven encourages one to bring the poor that are cast out to your house, then your darkness shall be as the noonday.  If you are for law and order you should listen to the Torah.  Leviticus Nineteen nine says to leave the corners of your fields for the poor, not that that is trespassing.  Deuteronomy Twenty-two four says when you see your brother’s ass fallen down, lift them up, not confiscate their motorhome.  To oppress the poor is to reproach your maker.  To plead for the poor is to know God.  Jesus did not have a place to lay his head and warned people to help the least of these.  He that restores is spiritual and that government will

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Linda van der Valk:

I have been a Chatsworth resident for 46 years.  I have been active with the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council since its inception.  I would like to stay on the board so that I can work on the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Community Plan when it comes up for an update.  This plan is extremely important to the future of Chatsworth.  We need to make sure that our rural life style and our community is protected from over development.  I have been Chair of the Land Use Committee for the last few years.  This has given me an insight on how the city approaches developments in our community.  We often do not agree with the outcome but often we are able to have mitigations that make the project more palatable than accept a rubber-stamped project.  I would appreciate your vote so that I can continue my work in the community.

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Susan Eskander:   (No Statement)

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Nicolas Montaño: 

I’ve been serving on your board for the past 3 yrs and we still have so much work to be done.  I am committed to serving this community.  We need to work together to accomplish this.  I’ve been a resident of Chatsworth for over 30 yrs.  We’ve owned a business in Chatsworth for over 40 yrs and have been a community volunteer and have served this community with pride.  I’ll do my best for protect our way of life from negative influences.

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Matt Weintraub:   (No Statement)