Public safety is Fox's top priority

Councilmember Andy Fox Andy Fox is quick to say public safety is his No. 1 priority.

Fox has served on the City Council since 1994, during which time, he said, he's provided the leadership needed to keep Thousand Oaks the FBI-ranked safest city in America.

"I fought for and won a 60 percent increase in the local police budget, including a new detective position to work on sexual assault cases and crimes against children," Fox said.

He also said his leadership helped bring fire paramedics to the city with no tax increase. With fire stations in every neighborhood, he said, it's effective to have paramedics integrated with the firefighters so they can be among the first to respond when needed.

"This saves lives."

Saving lives is Fox's vocation as second in command at the Los Angeles Fire Department. He's been a firefighter for 26 years.

Fox initiated the local auto defibrillator program, which saved a life in the first month after the device was installed in the Civic Arts Plaza, he said. One of the ushers, who was trained to use the heart-reviving instrument, came to the aid of a patron. Defibrillators have been provided for all city buildings, he said.

Fox supports adding police and funding their equipment as needed, he said. He sees the bicycle cops and Volunteers in Police as effective programs that help the city maintain its safe status, he said.

Open space and the environment are also at the top of his list, Fox said.

"I wrote the local measure that says the Thousand Oaks general plan cannot be changed without a vote of the people."

On his watch, more than 1,500 acres of private land were converted into public open space, said Fox, who's served 12 consecutive years on the Conejo Open Space Conservancy Agency.

Fox has a bachelor's degree in political science/local governmenfrom California Lutheran University and a master's degree in dispute resolution from Pepperdine University. The former mayor and planning commissioner is married to Phebe Fox and has four children, Susan, 21; Andrew, 13Cassie, 11; and Daniel, 8.

His children help him stay close to the community, Fox saidHe currently coaches in the Thousand Oaks Titan's Youth Football League and has also coached youth softball and Little League.

Fox is active in St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, where he's risen in the ranks to become the men's club's head cook at an annual pancake breakfast. Having started out as cleaner of the fish fryer used at Lent, Fox said he can now make a perfect pancake using a well-heated grill and special ingredients such as vanilla extract in the batter.

His parents, John and Dorothy Fox, have lived in Thousand Oaks for 29 years. Fox has been a resident for 24 years.

As Fox looks to the future, he sees there's more to be done. He wants to see more open space acquired at an affordable price, he said. Budgeting is a challenge, he noted.

"I look for good development based on what's best for the entire community," he said.

The city is currently going through a transition of its management team, he said. Fox would like to be reelected to make sure the city provides good service and is responsive to the community, he said.