I hear that the Mayor of Santa Clarita Cameron Smyth is running for the assembly seat to represent the 38th assembly district. The primary is this June.
As he is not from Simi Valley I don't know his bio beyond what the city website lists ( amazing facts important to voters like lettering in two sports!).
I assume from his bio ( Working for Pete Knight ) that he is from the conservative wing of the Republican Party. I can assume that someone from the moderate wing will emerge and get the support of Dr. Keith Richman and others. From my intial read he makes Audra and Tony look like Bill and Hillary. But maybe the stuff on google is only the party centered red meat talk.
So, what are your initial thoughts on this candidate and this race? Are there other candidates? He used to work for Shell Oil company but in what capacity?
By the way, Santa Clarita selects their mayor from the council and rotates the position.
I don't know enough about him to know what he stands for.
Scott
Is it fair to figure out someone's politics from a list of former employers? Maybe the people he worked for happened to be the only people hiring at the time.
Good point... I don't know if employer brings its own baggage. Probably the voters have to decide that one...
Scott
Scott,
I agree, except do you think there will be an election? If no republican challenges him in the primary it is a done deal, no?
I also am curious if it is fair for those in the media or bloggers to label him very conservative based on who he has worked with.
I forget what the numbers are in the 38th district. Do you know a source for them?
Brian:
Do you mean election or campaign when you say, "do you think there will be an election?" I know there will be an election in June 06, whether there is a campaign is another matter.
Scott
I don't know who is replacing McClintock.
I'm not sure, it probably will be one candidate for state assembly. Republicans don't seem to be as angry at each other like democrats are...
Scott
A replacement for McClintock would require he wins his run for LT. GOV. He was re-elected in 2004 to four more years to the State Senate. So there would either be a special election for his seat, or an appointment, but I am confident this blog would argue BOTH would be a travesty.
So I am confident if it's a special election, it would be a republican, vs. some democrat under hypnosis after being struck by an SUV mirror. Has Wagner pressed charges yet against that mirror?
OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR!
Tim
Tim,
You're absolutely right. I totally forgot that we just re-elected him. Thanks for the correction.
As for the second comment: LOL!!!
Scott
Mr. Smyth has done a great job...of IGNORING many of the needs of residents here. I speak from personal experience in interacting with this man. He cares nothing for residents, his only goal has always been higher office. Many of us are trying to rid our neighborhood of the recent problems of drugs and gangs, as well as unsightly homes that bring down our property values. Mr. Smyth has ignored us, while other members of the council have really tried to get something done. He is universally regarded by me and my neighbors as arrogant and self-serving. I can tell you first-hand about this mans politics. Mary Barrientos, however, is the greater of two evils. It's a no-win situation for residents.
Who is Mary Barrientos? What do you know about her?
And can you give us details behind your two main charges so that we can prove you just don't work for an opponent?
1. He isn't taking care of his voters like the other council members.
2. He is arrogant and only worried about the next office.
Please provide links, details, or other witnessess. I am not saying you are right or wrong, as I know very little about Mr. Smyth as I live in Simi Valley. I would just like some facts to back up your charges.
Voter registration in AD 38 is 35% Dem, 44% Repub, and 17% who don't know.
Jerre, numbers tell part of the story. Do you think it is a moderate ( Arnold style ) Repubican district, or a conservative ( Pete Knight ) type of district.
Brian
Ran into this old post from a while back doing a search... Cameron has signaled that he plans to run an anti-immigrant campaign, and is indeed in the "far right" of the party. Sammy's right on about the higher office comment, though because Smyth works hard to not piss anyone off, he's not as crummy a councilmember as some of the others. He still works for Shell, as a PR guy in... San Bernadino I think?
Matt,
Do you think he will run against anyone or will the field be empty?
Why do you think Simi Valley with all the wealth and votes we have doesn't have a mentioned candidate or a rep in the assembly or state senate?
Brian
There's a Dem for the 38th from Northridge, I know it's not Ventura Co, but it's closer than Santa Clarita, at least... Smyth has 1 (apparently pushover) primary opponent, word is that the Dems will have 2 or 3 in the primary field at this point. Who knows how it'll go -- at the very least, the dems will make Cameron spend all his money before he gets to the capitol, but it should be an interesting race...
Matt,
Any ideas who the Democrats have? Do you know the district registration numbers?
Thanks for your comments. Whenever you see an article or news about this race, please send it to me.
Brian
Jim Alger (Northridge West council) has announced, two others from further north haven't. I've met Jim and came away impressed by his energy. We'll see about the others when they jump in all the way.
Lyn Shaw, the Chair of the CA Democratic Party' Women's Caucus, long time SFV activist, is the candidate with all the electeds endorsements.
Did she file? I had heard she was thinking of it, but hadn't heard that she'd made up her mind. She was one of the two, someone who considers her a moral enemy the other: if Shaw/Hilfenhaus is in, we'll have #3 shortly.