Five-time Port Hueneme mayor Jonathan Sharkey remembered

PORT HUENEME, Calif. – When former Port Hueneme mayor Jonathan Sharkey died of brain cancer on Dec. 1, 2020, his loved ones could not hold a large celebration due to COVID-19 restrictions. On Sunday, they made up for that.

They invited musicians to perform his favorite music inside and outside of the Ocean View Pavilion in Port Hueneme.

The marquee read "What A Long Strange Trip It's Been, Jon Sharkey 1949-2020." The Grateful Dead reference is followed by a backwards J.

Sharkey served on the Port Hueneme City Council for more than two decades and served as mayor five times.

As a politician, Sharkey is remembered for working to secure jobs at Naval Base Ventura County, and for finding ways to solve beach erosion.

Before the pandemic Sharkey helped create the so-called "Green Mile" on Channel Islands Blvd. That's where the tax revenue from cannabis stores has improved Port Hueneme's finances.

Jonathan Sharkey was 71 years old.