Gene "Hoss" Hostetler and James L. "Jim" Meredith are running for reelection to the board of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District.

Samuel J. Lirones is challenging the incumbents for one of the two available seats on the board.

Hostetler is a police detective in Simi Valley and has served on the board for 12 years. He worked with the park district as an umpire before deciding to run for the board in 1994.

"Our people are doing a great job at maintaining some of the best parks in the country," Hostetler said. "We work to keep the parks safe and beautiful for the residents, and we do what the people want as long as we can accomplish it."

If reelected, Hostetler hopes to increase the number of sporting fields available to youth groups.

"I want to be able to provide a positive direction to the district and to give back something to the community," Hostetler said on the district's website.

Meredith, who's been a director for 24 years, has been actively involved in the community through sports, veterans' groups, Scouting and community organizations.

"I got involved because I had a degree in recreation from Moorpark College and my wife encouraged me to run," Meredith said.

Meredith has seen the district's budget grow from $2 million to $14 million, the number of parks increase from one to five, the addition of an equestrian center and the preservation of open space.

He worked as an insurance salesman for Thomas International and has been retired since 1974.

The district is charged with providing residents with a broad range of recreational activities, creating a budget for those activities, purchasing and maintaining parkland and maintaining park facilities.

Funds are provided to the district through property taxes from district residents and through donations.

Voting will take place Nov. 7.