Did anyone see this article by Tom Parker about the recent 9/11 tribute in Simi Valley? Seems like it was put on by the defense dept. I was not there but anyone that was I want your input about it.

Here is another video from Steve Gould, candidate for Simi Valley School Board. In it he talks about C4 the bond that is paying for school remodels across the district. Some critics have attacked the oversight of the bond and the rate at which inflation has caused projects to be shelved.

After you watch the video leave a comment or question for Steve Gould.

If you want to ask a question of another candidate click on their entry. I have videos or entries devoted to many candidates. If you want to be included just e-mail me.

Click here for
Steve Gould's first video ( Simi Valley School Board)
Thurlow Partridge ( Simi Valley School Board)
Jeanne Davis ( Simi Valley School Board)
Tim Camarillo ( Simi Valley School Board)
Mark Van Dam ( Moorpark City Council)
Jim Dantona ( Ventura County Board of Supervisors)
Peter Foy ( Ventura County Board of Supervisors)
Charles Watson ( County Board of Education)
ML Peterson ( County Board of Education)
Donna Prenta ( County Board of Education)
Rev. Jill Martinez ( CA-24 House of Representatives )

There is now another candidate running against Elton Gallegly. The site is really odd.

Donna Prenta and her husband greeting voters
The above picture was from The Simi Valley Days Fair on Saturday night. Donna Prenta was the only candidate with a booth at the fair. I am not commenting on her platform but just her work ethic when I say Donna Prenta has put a bunch of energy into this campaign. I admire candidates that take the time to meet the public and find new ways to engage voters.

I don't know why Dean Kunicki won't e-mail me being that I am told he reads the blog. Strange. Anyways Mr. Kunicki if you want me to post information about your campaign I will, just e-mail it in.

Donna Prenta has sent out a press release with yet more endorsements. Click on continue reading for more details.

There was an article I missed in Thursday paper about Peter Foy and his charitable foundation. As you might remember his foundation has come under fire by supporters of Jim Dantona.

Well, I imagine that this article will clear up all lingering issues and make everyone happy.

Thanks for the news tip from Republican leader and reader Mike Osborn.

Brian Dennert here. From time to time if someone wants to write on a topic I allow them to guest blog. I have done it on Tim Keaney's website and he has an open invite to do it here. I have also had Arleigh Kidd ( Local Teachers' Union Rep.) blog here. You don't need to agree with me. In fact Tim Keaney and I often disagree but that doesn't mean I don't read what he writes.

Anyways, our latest writer wants to use a pen name.He wants to be called Elvis but claims it has nothing to do with the king. "Elvis" seems nice enough but I always give more value to comments left by people that use their real names. You should too!

Guest Blogger: Barbra Willamson

Barbra Willimson would like to talk policy on some city issues. Click on continue reading for details.

The above picture was sent in by The Dantona Campaign from The Simi Valley Days Parade. I would post Peter Foy pictures if they would send them in.

Towards the back of Friday's Acorn there was an article about Foy VS Dantona. It mentions debates ( Peter Foy has no comment, Jim Dantona is all for it) immigration, endorsements. Peter Foy has the support of Judy Mikels and Jim Dantona is pumped about his support from public safety groups.

Somehow I am expected to believe it is about policy but something tells me that Judy Mikels supporting Peter Foy is more about the tough race Jim Dantona ran against her.

I wonder what Peter Foy thinks about the county's decision to make Tapo Canyon Park into a mixed use park including RV's?

On Saturday night about 9:20 PM I saw Elton Gallegly leaving the Regal movie theaters in the Simi Valley Civic Center. I could of asked him about Iraq, debating Jill Martinez, thoughts on his last term, immigration reform, the Republican lobbyist scandal, Tom Delay, and of course Rep. Duncan Hunter's proposal to extend hunting in the islands off of the Ventura coast. But I didn't. I think even important public officials deserve a private life. Being a politician has to be like being a doctor. People at parties constantly showing you bumps and birthmarks while seeking your opinion.

I wrote about Tom McClintock some time ago not really "being" from Thousand Oaks. I don't live in Thousand Oaks, but do residents see him at the dog park, the local DMV, or maybe the second class mall they have? ( Sorry, showing some Simi Pride!) If many people have I will retract my remarks.

So, with that being said post your local political celebrity sightings in the comments section. I will start first.

Some House Republicans are asking Bob Ney ( R-Toast) to step down from office and give up his pension since he has said he plans to plead guilty to corruption charges and might spend more than 2 years in prison. It is a mad system where an employee ( member of congress) can be forced to retire ( go to prison) but still collect their pension. Hopefully the pressure will convince him to keep making good choices and not stick the bill to taxpayers.

Bob Ney is currently being treated for alcholism and is still a member of congress.

If Republicans would of spoken out about his obvious corruption months ago they could of put this behind them before election season. But it is never a wrong time to start making the right choices. Good work to the Republicans that spoke out.

Seems it is never too early to start campaigning. Two different people told me that Mary Pallant is starting to raise her visilbility to case she runs in two years ( or less if Gallegly retires midterm like many Democrats are talking about).

Have any readers seen other candidates talking about the next campaign already?

Rev. Jill Martinez has a new video up on youtube about Iraq.

UPDATE: There is also a story about her on dailykos.com the world's #1 political blog. Maybe I was wrong about this campaign after all. They got alot of ground to make up but they are picking up the pace.

UPDATE V 2.0: Jill has opened up a Simi Valley office. Can someone from the campaign post the important details?

Feel free to leave questions and hopefully she or her staff will respond. I think they will be more likely to have a serious converation if you don't use fake names.

Steve Gould is a former board member making a try again. Here is a video of him talking about why he is running and some of the issues. If you want more information you can go to his website.

After watching the video leave comments or questions for Steve Gould. If you would like to see previous school board candidate videos click here for Thurlow Partridge and here for Jeanne Davis. I also have an entry with Tim Camarillo. If you have questions for them, leave it under their blog posts.

If you know a candidate that would like to be featured on the Ventura County politics blog with the most traffic send me an e-mail. Having a video shows you are a serious candidate willing to face questions. It also drives up your google search results.

This new video shows recently turned Democrat and former Reagan official Jim Webb being praised by Ronald Reagan. I guess this is the true definition of a Reagan Democrat. Of course, many Republicans are upset that he is using the video.

I am hoping that Elton Gallegly makes ethics reform a part of his platform this year. The House of Representatives needs some serious help.

Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio is scheduled to plead guilty to criminal charges. He might end up in prison making him the second member of the house to be locked up. He wasn't running for reelection but part of me wonders how he got this far in his party? Why won't members of the house stand up against one another when there is corruption. Nothing erodes faith in government like corruption regardless of party.

Hopefully Gallegly will speak out on this criminal. If not this time, he will most likely get another chance as I doubt this is the last person who should be wearing handcuffs in The Republican Lobbyist Scandal.

If the Democrats win back the House it will be because the House Republicans wouldn't clean up their own mess.

The Star reported on several allegations of wrong doing in county races today. Here is the link. I don't have any background information to share.

I know that Jim Dantona's team will give background information, and I would hope Peter Foy's team would also.

If you see Peter Foy this weekend ask his staff why they don't send in press releases.

Ralph Nader has been ordered to pay $80,000 for what the court called "the most deceitful and fraudulent exercise ever perpetrated upon this court."

Seems likes more than 2/3rds of the signatures on Ralph Nader's petition were invalid and included the all American voter Mickey Mouse.

Of course he claims Democrats conspired against him. They are so unfair not allowing fraud when he wants to throw an election!

No word yet on Joe Lieberman's claim that his website was hacked. But weeks later joe2006.com is not fully operational. I am guessing they just didn't know how to handle the traffic.

Lyn Shaw ( CA-Assembly district 38) has a website. Lyn Shaw beat Jim Alger in the Democratic primary for the right to take on Cameron Smyth. Cameron Smyth is expected to win this Republican district.

Since Lyn Shaw beat Jim Alger I haven't seen her campaign at all. Has anyone else? Has she ever attended an event recently in Simi Valley?

I feel I should give her a hard time since I gave Smyth a hard time since he wasn't from Simi Valley. I also said some nice words about him.

Lyn if you are campaigning send me an e-mail sometime. Otherwise you might as well call Smyth and concede. I have his number.

Charles Watson ( Candidate Ventura County Board of Education VS ML Peterson ) has announced several new endorsements. Click on continue reading to see them.

I spoke with Charles Watson by e-mail and he is trying to find time to come out to Simi Valley and make a video. I also spoke with ML Peterson over the weekend and she has agreed to put together a video if everything goes right in the near future. ML, if you have a website, send me the url.

If any candidate has short videos they'd like to submit let me know.

I really don't know how powerful endorsements are. I am not going to endorse anyone on this blog for boards of education. I figure the more information about all the candidates that gets out the better for the voting public. If you know anyone that wants more information about their campaign to get out there, tell them to contact me. I put information up about a variety of candidates. If you don't see something from a candidate it is not because I am against them. It is beacause they don't send things in.

I'd be interested to know if the county board of education is endorsing each other though.

The Simi Valley Days Parade and Fair is upon us once again and it presents a great chance for candidates to make an impression with voters mere weeks before the election. If you saw my coverage of The Simi Valley Street Fair you would know that many local politicians will be there.

For this year's event Donna Prenta ( Candidate for County Board of Education) has said she will be at the fair talking with voters. I think that is a very smart choice for any politican especially a challenger to an incumbent.

I think we can judge many races by who shows up. If either Jim Dantona or Peter Foy misses this chance that would be a bad sign for either campaign. Both of them were at the Street Fair as was Judy Mikels.

There is no real election for Simi Valley city council so I'd be surprised if either candidate was present.

If you know of a party, campaign, or candidate that will be at the fair or in the parade please leave it in the comments section.

If you are going take your camera. If you get any good shots or short video clips with candidates feel free to e-mail them to me and I will post them. Take a picture with your favorite candidate and send it in. If you take a video clip I will post it right away.

California is about to join a compact with other states to eliminate the electoral college.

The idea is simple: The candidate for President with the most votes will become President.

The compact says that the states in the deal all agree to give their electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes nationwide.The deal only goes into effect if enough states to create an electoral majority ratifies it. It sidesteps a need for an amendment that states like Wyoming ( population 112, 97 on weekends) would never go for.

Right now the average Montana vote is about 30 x more powerful than a Californian vote. And no candidate in my lifetime has seriously contested California. That could all change.

Let Arnold know you support the idea. It could help him become President one day!

I have often wondered about the impact that titles on ballots have on the minds of voters. Some people go with "educator" when running for education positions even if by educator they mean something far removed with what the image conjures. Others put down businessperson hoping that will make them look good with the public's money. In an election season with so many candidates can the ballot title sway the vote of someone that isn't informed in a race? If I didn't get around to reading about two candidates and one said criminal defense lawyer and the other said police officer, I'd vote for the cop.

If you click here you can see the candidate list and the ballot title that will be listed under their name.

There are some rather interesting titles. Here are my takes on them.

For school board:

Steven Lee Bloore is a certified hypnotherapist.
I hate all those uncertified people running around! Okay I apologize to all the people this type of therapy has helped. For more information on what it takes to become certified go to this link.

Eric Lundstrom is a Financial Analyst and a Father.
Playing up the family vote looks like a good idea. But does this end up inferring the other candidates don't have children? Of course the financial analyst looks great.

For County Supervisor:

Jim Dantona is an Independent Small Businessman.
What would a dependent businessman be? A franchise owner? What is wrong with franchise places? Dantona might have just lost the franchise owner vote. There goes 9 votes down the drain.

Peter Foy is a businessman and a farmer.
He has Jim Dantona beat because he is a businessman and a farmer. Dantona should have put down Father, coach, small independent businessman, educator, part-time firefighter, financial analyst, and a farmer/rancher!

In Eastern Ventura County there are a few farms left and many voters have sympathy for the family farm so I wonder how this one will work with him.

In Oxnard Mayor Thomas Holden is an optometrist.
Isn't kind of weird that after Mayor Lopez they would elect another optometrist in Oxnard? Don't they have any dentists with political aspirations?

Anyways, leave your comments on ballot titles. And thank you Brian Mack for another great photoshop. If you have a nomination for a photoshop leave it in the comments. I hear Glen Becerra liked the last one. I am hoping Peter Foy can use this one when promoting his campaign to farmers.

( Editor's note: This is part 2 in a series with Moorpark City Council candidate Mark Van Dam. To view the earlier version, click here: If you have a candidate that would like video posted e-mail me.)

In this short clip Mark Van Dam discusses his views on The NorthPark Project.

Because the project is outside the Urban Growth Boundary of Moorpark an election was called on the development. The No side won in a landslide.

Feel free to leave questions for Mark Van Dam so he can answer them like he has done in the past.

Peter Foy is hiring for his campaign. He promises to work with other Republicans for a get out the vote drive (GOTV).

Republicans are great at getting job offers for young college graduates. This job even comes with the promise of a staff job if Foy wins.

For job description click on continue reading.

Here is a short clip of the Simi Valley fires from 2005. It shows the fires over three days in fast forward motion with music. Youtube.com hosted videos will be the wave of the future, and you heard about it here.

Incumbents are losing left and right. Voters are them holding accountable for doing a poor job.

Here is another long term pol about to have his career ended when just a few months back he seemed to be like teflon.

I am hoping voters keep throwing out the worst of their profession.

This is shaping up to be an anti-incumbent year. I wonder how much of that has to do with Judy Mikel's defeat? Judy Mikels might of been caught in a tidal wave year of voter anger that is going to be taken out on politicians across the nation.

( Note: Charles Watson is running against Mary Louise Peterson for Area 1 of The County Board of Education.)

Charles Watson is running for The County Board of Education and he has a pretty cool website up detailing his background and plans.

Check it out at charleswatson.com

Charles, thanks for sending it in. Make sure to keep me updated on the campaign.

Sen. George Allen ( R-VA) is running against Former Reagan Official Jim Webb. Allen who has been mentioned as presidential material if he won now seems to have shot himself in the foot.

The Jim Webb campaign team had been following Senator Allen as he was giving speeches across the state. At one of the speeches Senator Allen noticed the camera man and made the foolish choice to pick on him. He taunted the man with racial insults and even told him welcome to America! ( He was born here).

I'd think that this might be enough to end any dreams of a serious run for President and maybe enough to end his senate career.

If anything this video should remind us that hate and racial attacks no longer have a part in mainstream America.

George Allen, welcome to America.

Joe Scarborough had a debate on his show the other night about the intellectual nature of George W. Bush. I saw Joe at The Reagan Library a few years back and he seems like a real decent man. He was open to the teens who were there and took some good pictures with the crowd. So, I'd like to plug his show.

The debate went back and forth and some good points were made by both sides. The biggest impact it had for me though was bringing it back to the micro level.

I want to know more about this on a local level.

Locally I don't know enough leaders on a personal basis but I was curious about those of you that do. I want to focus on upbeat debate so here is my question:

Which local leader is pure genius? Who is most likely to quote Nietzche? To have read the Federalist Papers? Speaks multiple languages? Understands government financing more than their staff? Could lecture about the Sunni/Shi'a split? Who are the uber-politicos?

I will delete all nasty comments.

Jeanne Davis is running for Simi Valley School ( 10 candidates, 2 open seats). Here is a video of her at a recent event.

If you have any questions for her leave them in the comments. Also, check out her sweet ( or as Tim Camarillo would say 1337) website.

I have more videos of other candidates. If you want a video done you can e-mail them to me or you can e-mail me to set up a time to do it.

For the earlier video of Thurlow Partridge click here.

If you have questions for Tim Camarillo click here.

As of this Sunday Thurlow has about 40 views of their video and Davis has about 20.

Please leave questions, but direct them at the candidate in the video for the most part. I will do a video with every candidate that wants one so you can get a chance to ask them directly.

I have deleted questions directed at other candidates so that this candidate has a chance to respond. I will repost them when she has had a chance to respond.