Former Simi Valley mayor and supervisor championed East County behavioral health resources
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to name the East County Crisis Stabilization Unit in Simi Valley after former Supervisor and Mayor Bob Huber, honoring a man whose career in public service spans more than five decades and whose personal connection to mental health runs deeper than most knew.
Supervisor Janice Parvin brought the item forward, calling Huber a community leader whose record of improving quality of life stretches from his earliest days as a deputy district attorney and local attorney through his years on the City Council, where he served from 1980 to 1984, and later as a four-term mayor from 2010 to 2018.
"His decades of service to Simi Valley and Ventura County reflect a lifelong commitment of public service," Parvin told the board.
Huber joined the Board of Supervisors in 2018, elected to represent District 4. True to his campaign promise to be "a leader that listens," he requested the board hold meetings in East County, launched quarterly town halls and worked to bring county programs and resources directly to residents. He was instrumental in securing funding for a behavioral health facility in East County, establishing an ombudsman position with Ventura County Behavioral Health, and funding a comprehensive needs assessment for the county's mental health needs.
He also pushed for improvements to the local Free Clinic and helped guide area businesses through COVID-19 relief funding. It was during the allocation of American Rescue Act funding that Huber made his most lasting mark on behavioral health.
Supervisor Matt LaVere, who served alongside him, put it plainly: "Anybody who works with Bob, you quickly learned that behavioral health, mental health, those services are so high on his priority list. He was the one here fighting to make sure that we provided these services in East County."
The new East County Crisis Stabilization Unit is under development at 3150 E. Los Angeles Ave., with operations expected to begin around July 1, 2026. The facility, being built by transforming an existing site using American Rescue Act funding Huber helped secure, will provide short-term urgent mental health care and stabilization for individuals in crisis, serving as a lower-cost alternative to hospitalization for residents on the east side of the county.
Chair Jeff Gorell, who said he has known Huber for many years, described the unit as something Huber willed into existence. "The CSU is one of those that was originally a twinkle in his eye that he was able to give life to," Gorell said. "He fought really hard to bring a lot of services out to the east side of the county."
What made the vote particularly meaningful was what his family shared about the personal forces that shaped his priorities. Huber's son, Todd, a 57-year resident, told the board his father's commitment to mental health was not abstract.
"He truly believes that mental health is important," Todd told Supervisors at the April 15 meeting. "He saw his mom go through some pretty heavy mental health issues, so he always made that a really high priority in his career and leadership."
Todd also shared that his father served as a mental health judge for East County for more than 20 years, doing so pro bono. He worked really hard. He didn't do it for praises or rewards.
Huber's wife, Deb Holler, said her husband is facing a long-term illness and could not be present, making the honor all the more significant for the family. She spoke about discovering, while managing the family finances, that her husband regularly waived fees for clients, particularly young people who had acted out due to untreated mental health issues. When she pressed him about it, his answer was always the same.
"What goes around comes around," he would tell her. "There are givers and takers in the world, and the takers eat better. But the givers sleep better. And then he would just grin at me with those big, beautiful green eyes."
Supervisor Vianey Lopez, who had the shortest overlap with Huber on the board and knew him mostly through a screen during the pandemic, said he reached out to welcome her the moment she was appointed. "He was very gracious in reaching out and extending a welcome, even from a distance."
The crisis stabilization unit represents a new approach to mental health emergencies in East County. Rather than sending individuals in crisis to hospital emergency rooms, the facility will offer specialized care designed to stabilize patients and connect them with ongoing treatment. The unit will serve as a critical resource for law enforcement, emergency responders, and families dealing with mental health crises.
Huber's advocacy extended beyond mental health services. During his time as supervisor, he was an early proponent of a family justice center in East County and consistently pushed for resources that would serve residents without requiring trips to western parts of the county.
Supervisor Kelly Long called the naming completely appropriate. "I think this is very touching and completely on point as to what a great legacy we can leave for him."
The facility naming reflects a broader recognition of Huber's impact on county services. His work securing American Rescue Act funding helped establish not just the crisis stabilization unit, but also the ombudsman position that continues to help residents navigate county behavioral health services.
Gorell closed the discussion with a message for the family: "Please share with him our love and our gratitude for his service."
The Bob Huber East County Crisis Stabilization Unit will serve residents throughout East County when it opens later this year, standing as a permanent reminder of a public servant who understood that effective government means meeting people where they are, both geographically and in their moments of greatest need.
