The Ojai Post has a full story about Steve Bennett announcing he is running for re-election to the Board of Supervisors.

I did past blog entries on Steve Bennett that you can read for background information.

Update #1

Update #2

Has any potential rival candidate stepped forward? I hear rumors of Mike Osbourn of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee thinking about running, but I also hear rumors he is thinking about the Ventura City Council. Mike, I guess people like making up rumors that you are running for things.

Here is a link to Steve Bennett's updated website.

I am back on Brett Wagner's e-mail list. Brett, Although I know you might not read this because you said you don't read blogs much ( where do you get information about local politics?), thanks for adding me again and sending me all that information today. I will include it in future updates.

As many of you know fund raising is reported by quarters with one of those quarters ending today. The prowess a candidate has at raising early money is often seen as a mark of their strength which encourages more donors to support a candidate. If Democrats want to defeat Gallegly or his heir they must start serious efforts soon, not a few months before the election.

Brett Wagner understands this system and sent out an e-mail alert.

( Click on continue reading to read the e-mail).

For candidates, you can have the front page of my blog and attract attention by sending in updates. Brag about your fund raising success. Tell us about your upcoming events. Send in some photos. Let me know how I can get the word out about your campaign.

You can't expect a newspaper to cover you in print if you can't even attract attention of blogs devoted to nothing but politics.

The term for media attention is called earned media. I am tired of candidates that don't go and earn any media and then complain they can't get any attention.

Brett Wagner understands this concept. That is why he wrote a Candidate's Diary for the VCreporter in 2004.

That being said, I understand the frustration at the local media not covering enough politics. That's why I started this blog.

Brett, send some photos of any recent precinct walks and I will post them ASAP for you.

(This picture is from John McCain's days as a POW in the North Vietnamese Hanoi Hilton.)
It is a great reminder of what John McCain was doing while George W. Bush was using family connections to avoid the war even though he would later attack people that did serve.

A passionate John McCain supporter is organizing Ventura County. Click on continue reading to read his letter and join the campaign.

In 2000 I supported John McCain in the Republican primaries by helping to organize my college. I no longer support him as he has moved to get W.'s support and moved closer to the Falwell/Robertson branch of his party.

But all of that said, he is the best Republican when it comes to so many issues that even though I disagree with him on a variety of issues, I trust him.

If you are going to vote Republican, get involved early to pick a decent nominee. Don't let history repeat itself. Unless of course you are one of the 28% that think W. is doing a great job. I have a feeling even that 28% wishes that some other Republican would of become president. Jeb perhaps?

Here is John McCain's
myspace account.
Official website.

The Ventura County Office of Education ( or county board of ed) recently hired two lobbying firms to represent them in DC ( I didn't find the website) and Sac.

One of the lobbyists is lobbying Elton Gallegly for an earmark and the other is helping build support for one of Audra Strickland's bills in the state capitol.

I am really confused and need my readers to help sort through these issues.

1. My tax dollars go to DC and then back to the state who then gives money to the local board who then hires a lobbyist to start the process all over again?

2. The county board of education hired a lobbyist to work with Elton Gallegly? I always figured they could call him directly. He does represent all of us, no? If I ask him for something am I expected to hire a lobbyist? Barbra Williamson, does the city of Simi Valley employ lobbyists to work with Elton Gallegly or other elected officials? I have heard nothing but great reviews in the past for his staff including Brian Miller. Is the explanation connected to the fact the lobbyists work with his DC staff?

Board member ML Peterson, thanks for answering questions for us in the past. There could be a great explanation for all of this but it does seem odd. Can you help answer questions and ask Dean Kunicki to come on here and explain the value of this contract?

Do either of the firms have local connections?

Dean Kunicki's main point in the article is that the value of the contracts will be shown with the return on investment. When do we find out? Over the next year or several years?

CONTEST: The first person to identify the album cover gets a gold star.

Here is the press release...

The California One Care Now Campaign is the
nation's first-ever statewide
grassroots campaign for comprehensive health
insurance. Teams in more than
365 California cities are conducting grassroots
educational and public
awareness "action" events--one event per day, in
a different city, for one
year--to demand quality, affordable healthcare
for all Californians.

Everyone is invited to an educational forum on
Sat. June 30 from 10 AM to
noon in Thousand Oaks at the Library community
room, 1401 East Janss Road.

( First person to connect the idea of this post to the picture gets a gold star.)

I am curious about the make up of my readers.

If you didn't know you don't need to register, use a real e-mail address, or your real name to post.

But regardless if you are using a pen name or a real name tell us 5 things we don't already know about you.

I will start.

In one week I will be releasing more secret documents but not about the landfill.

Let the countdown begin.

Feel free to guess the topic.

( Background information: In the last general election the local Republican Central Committee raised money and spent it on behalf of their candidates. To get around regulations they sent mailers only to party members and said they were member communications because according to them all local Republicans are members of their central committee. Democrats and other critics say they exploited a loophole and violated campaign ethics/laws. The central committee has said that membership communications are a legal way of getting the word out about their candidates. The central committee has been the target of a few investigations since then to determine the legality of their funding mechanism. If I have any of the background information wrong please correct me int he comments. )

Earlier a blog reader wrote on a different entry:

Bubbo,

Not that the facts seem to matter to you much, but the VCRCC hasn't violated anything, much less campaign spending laws. It's now the end of June, that's almost 8 months since the election and neither the Ethics Commission nor their hired gun lawyer has been able to come up with anything close to a violation.

I'm taking odds that no violation will be found, and no action will be taken against the VCRCC----any takers?

That got me thinking. We could actually have a bet placed with all proceeds going to the winners favorite charity. Maybe Peter Foy's Toy Drive or Jim Dantona's Baseballers Against Drugs.

Is there any interest in doing this? Before we collect the money let's discuss the details. Like how long until the bet is finished or what would be considered a reprimand.

Anyway you slice it our community will benefit.

You can bet without telling everyone your real name.

I have banned a frequent poster for using abusive language. I have asked him over and over to stop making comments that either completely hijack a blog entry or that attacks other users directly.

I have e-mailed him to discuss it but he hasn't responded. UPDATE: SORRY YOUR MESSAGES WERE BEING FILTERED. MY FAULT.

If you see crazy comments attacking people and not engaging in rational discussion by any person's point of view, ignore them.

If in 30 days he wants to talk about it I am open to reinstating him.

But as I told him before it is a waste of my time to read through every one of his comments to see what is okay and what is not. This blog is my property. I make the rules and I am in charge of trying to stimulate political discussion. I don't care if you agree with me or not, it is your behavior and you wasting my time that bother me.

Bubba Kidd can testify I don't delete or ban people for not agreeing with me. I asked you to stop posting because I am getting complaints from people from both parties telling me they won't post because of you. You have no legal right to diminish the value of my property.

If you want to start your own blog I encourage you. You can also go to capoliticalnews.com, flapsblog.com or other places where yelling at each other is acceptable.

If you see comments that go past just political hardball and instead use foul language or other offensive behavior please e-mail me.

UPDATE: He keeps posting but I haven't seen an e-mail.

Brett Wagner has managed to offend so many Democratic groups and activists it is getting hard to keep count.

Brett, if you would keep open lines of communication I am confident many of these issues wouldn't happen.

My biggest problem is that he keeps pretending he hasn't heard the news that Elton Gallegly changed his mind and is planning to run again. It might be great for fund raising to say you are running for an open seat, but it is dishonest not to mention that there is some doubt and the incumbent has also stated he is running again.

Brett, if he does retire at the end of this term, I apologize. But it has been widely reported across the nation that he is running again. Why do you still have on your website a request for money with really outdated information? Do you know something we don't? To your credit you did say way before anyone else that he was going to retire in 2006 and you were close on that one.

If you keep upsetting Democratic groups how could you hope to unite the party against Elton Gallegly or another Republican?

Anyways, if you want to read how Brett Wagner has angered the Young Progressive Democrats of Ventura County read on.

UPDATE: Brett Wagner has responded at The Ojai Post ( A very fine blog site).

UPDATE: Posting the address seems not to be the main issue being that the address is also on the front page of the Ventura County Democrats website.

UPDATE: If Heather and Brett will sit down and talk it out and come to an understanding I will unpublish this entry so they aren't hurting their party's unity. Brett, let me know if you are open to it. I left a message on your campaign office number earlier.

UPDATE: I signed up again for Brett Wagner's campaign e-mails but for some reason I don't get them. But don't worry Brett, plenty of people forward them to me!

Feel free to go to Brett Wagner's webpage and sign up for his updates.

Here is his latest e-mail.

To:
From: "Brett Wagner (for Congress)"
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:43:42 -0700
Subject: Campaign Response to Recent News

Best wishes,
Brett

As a side note, Heather has he called to work it out between you two? The offer to clear up the dispute so that he can help unite, instead of divide the party still stands. I will take down this thread if he does it.

I did call again today, but he hasn't responded to me either. I guess he has enough media attention.

The Young Progressive Democrats of Ventura County are getting together to eat dinner, watch Michael Moore's new movie Sicko, and talk about the film.

To find out the details click on continue reading.

Looks like Jim Dantona is more than thinking about running but is actually gearing up to run. Thanks to Laura Winchester for the button.

What issues do you think will have cross over appeal in this Republican leaning district? Can Dantona fire up his base and convince Democrats that they can win this fight?

Has Tony Strickland been hurt by losing to John Chiang in last year's Controller's race?

( The above picture is from Santa Clarita based blog socalpundit.com. Click on the link and read over their stuff. Socalpundit is a Republican based conservative blog.)

Last night I said that taking more trash from outside of Ventura County has to be as popular as the current immigration bill. It got me thinking. Where do my readers stand on the immigration bill? Is there a single person that is willing to put their real name down that supports it?

The immigration reform bill has inflamed pretty much every side of the debate. I don't see major legislation that will pass the senate AND the house and get a presidential signature.

I'd ask local politicians if they support it but I can't imagine anyone running for office wants to attach themselves to it.

I bet taking the social security surplus and donating it to build bridges in Alaska might be more popular. Okay, maybe not. But I haven't met a single person that has talked about supporting this package of reforms.

Jim Dantona and Young Progressive Democrat Mark Eggertsen at last night's Democratic club meeting where the Simi Valley Landfill expansion task force ( headed by Barbra Williamson) gave a presentation and answered questions in a free flow style.

Mark, when you get a chance tell us your impressions of the meeting. Thanks for driving out from Ventura to learn more.

Tonight there will be a meeting of the task force open to the public at the Simi Valley Library community room.

It would of been on television but the city council denied Barbra Williamson's request to use city hall because they were afraid people would think it was an official city function.

The Young Progressive Democrats of Ventura County have a call out for donations for their garage sell.

You can clear out your garage of old junk and help some hard working young people at the same time.

Click on continue reading for details on how to get your stuff picked up.

This is a copy of an agreement between the City of Simi Valley and Waste Management in regards to fees, traffic impact mitigation, and an expansion of the landfill.

On one of the documents it says the city will support the expansion of the landfill. What does that mean? It is legally binding? Does that mean all council members must support it? I don't want to speculate too much before someone that understands this issue more adds to the discussion.

I altered two documents. I highlighted one document and I put a cup of milk on another. Sorry about the rings.

Many of these documents are in the public domain but if you don't know what you are looking for it is hard to find it. Thanks to my new source of information. Keep it flowing.

To the landfill expansion committee: Keep us updated. bring back some pictures from the tour that Mike Smith has offered to your group.

Mike Gravel ( D- Alaska) has jsut released the strangest political ad I have ever seen.

If you understand what it means or feel like taking a guess, leave a comment.

Peter Foy had a meeting with residents of The Knolls this week to listen to their concerns. For the full article in The Acorn click here.

Quick note to Peter Foy: Thanks for another example of follow through on your campaign promises.

At the meeting the main topic was a proposed development by Colton lee Homes.

I haven't seen or studied the development but one quote really stuck out.

"According to Colton Lee president Gary Gorian, the project would include quality affordable, workforce and farmworker housing."

Farm worker housing? In Simi Valley? Maybe I am missing something but there doesn't seem to be that many farms around here. I can understand work force housing. Or starter homes. Maybe low income, or seniors. How about service industry workers? All of those groups are in need of affordable housing solutions that Colton lee might provide.

But if you are telling me that the project is for farm workers than I don't think we are having a rational discussion anymore. It just sounds like you are a reading off of a memo.

Am I wrong?

I know reader Barbra Williamson is more familiar with the project. Barbra, are there enough farms in Simi Valley to stimulate demand for farm worker housing?

Here is a recent article that Pro_Dunn supporters have been talking about to change th subject when it comes to The Conejo Valley Unified School Board.

How will religion influence the debate about the candidates in '08 beyond Mitt Romney?

Will John McCain start talking about Jesus to try to secure the far right? Will Rudy Giuliani be attacked for being a pro-gay rights and pro-choice Catholic?

Will Anti-Obama forces keep trying to infer that Barack is either a member of a radical black Christian church or a secret Muslim since he is a member of the same denomination that Fred Thompson chose to host his 2002 marriage? Of course different churches in a denomination have different cultures and views, but both churches are part of The United Church of Christ.

I do find it odd that Fred Thompson is so beloved from the right being that he was married by the most progressive on gay rights church in America.

Which churches in Ventura County do candidates regularly stump at during campaign season? Which pastors are most open to political discussions at their church?

The California Republican Assembly is gearing up to have a local meeting. The CRA is described by many as a conservative grassroots group dedicated to pushing Republicans to the right.

Here is the description from Steve Frank's blog:

For my readers in Ventura County great news. The California Republican Assembly is back, bigger and stronger in our county. There are now five clubs throughout the county.

For the first time, all of the clubs will have a joint meeting. This is the place for conservatives and activists in Ventura County. Come to the meeting, meet a real conservative Supervisor Peter Foy and join with others in the cause of freedom. It is June 21!

Mark your calendars, send emails, send press releases to your local newspapers, contact your new CRA members, call your Republican friends which may want to join the CRA and invite them to our first meeting. We need to have a great turnout. Invite your local "Republican" elected officials and ask them to join the CRA.

When - June 21st - Thursday - Time - 6:30 PM

Where - "The Pickles Deli" in Newbury Park ........go to www.picklesdeli.com for directions and menu. Address: 1940 Newbury Road, in the Kohl’s Shopping Center

NOTE: Everyone will be responsible for their own food and beverage purchases.

Guest Speaker - County Supervisor Peter Foy

CAPC ( California association of political centrists) readers, will you folks be there?

Sheriff Lee Baca is being threatened with a recall for releasing Paris Hilton out of jail early.

The man has no political instincts otherwise he would know releasing the most hated woman in America early was going to cost him. I guess he wasn't planning on running again.

Hypothetically would releasing OJ been more popular?

Only in LA would the sheriff get dragged into a case like this one.

Simi Valley Democrats scheduled to have a discussion about the proposed dump expansion

Wednesday, June 20th• 7:00pm

Guest speakers include council woman Barbra Williamson and State Senate candidate Jim Dantona.

Here is a job listing posted on craigslist.org recruiting professionals to work against politicians that support continuing the war in Iraq.

Will the war in Iraq have any impacts on local elections in 2008? Ending American involvement in the Iraq war might be on our ballots.

I spoke to Mike Dunn ( Member Conejo Valley Unified School District) tonight and he is interested in answering questions posed by readers about issues related to Conejo Valley Schools and the school board in an effort to explain his point of view about recent events.

Mike like many of us has a day job, so it might take him a few days to answer your questions so be patient.

I will delete off topic statements, people that distract the conversation onto random tangents, and people who are downright rude.

Using your real name makes you more credible but if you can't or won't that is fine too.

Mike, thanks for making yourself available to the public. Any other elected officials that are unafraid to take direct questions should send me an e-mail.

Thoughts?

From what I hear Mike Dunn, the Conejo school board member frequently at odds with the rest of the board, was on the end of a 4-1 vote to censure him.

I was not there and I am hearing reports of all sorts of fun.

I am sure there are at least some you tube videos being floated around. If you have one, please post a link.

Anyways, what happened?

I spoke to Mike Dunn by e-mail to offer him a chance to guest blog and explain his point of view but he is upset at The Star and said he has been really busy lately.

Keeping with tradition until Denis O'Leary sends me a photo the cat will take his place.

The Star reported today there is another challenger to John Flynn for county supervisor. Denis O'Leary, an Oxnard school board member joins John Zaragoza in challenging the long time supervisor.

We all know John Flynn is a Democrat but does anyone know the political party of the other two? I ask because The Ventura County Central Committee has vowed to turn races like this partisan if they can. Do they have a Republican candidate yet?

A reader, Republican Daniel Goldberg, sent in a link to his blog titled " U.S. Versus Them Inc.1945". He is a recent college grad and is just moved back to Ventura County.

I have been talking about him doing periodic updates where he posts guest blog entries on my site about topics I don't frequently discuss.

Anyways, if you are running for office and you are a conservative Republican you should contact him before a rival campaign snatches him up.

Please leave feedback about his blog here so I can use it to help him when we meet up in the next few weeks. For all my fellow bloggers I am willing to work with you regardless of party if it serves the public good. I believe having a robust debate about the critical issues facing our democracy will better us.

The Young Progressive Democrats of Ventura County are getting together to talk politics, socialize, and drink coffee. If you live anywhere near Ventura and want to get involved this could be your chance. They will be hosting regular meetings the first and third Mondays of every month.

Coffeecrats, send me a photo so I can replace the random cat photo . Heather Schmidt, can I steal one from your myspace page?

To find out the details for the event click on continue reading.

Looks like Jim Dantona is running. The picture is Democratic Leader Laura Winchester, Oxnard city council member Tim Flynn, and Jim Dantona candidate for state senate ( Against Tony Strickland, seat currently held by Tom McClintock.)

The Democrats are throwing their annual spring fling party today with the Lt. Governor, Lois Capps ( US House) , and Pedro Nava ( State Assembly).

Okay, maybe it isn't dangerous. It actually is a fun, family friendly event. I have been in past years and it is pretty packed with people. It is a great opportunity for networking. If you want to know who is planning to run for office, attending events like this is a great tip off. Will Jim Dantona be there ( thinking about state senate district 19 against Tony Strickland)? or Richard Francis ( thinking about US House seat currently held be Gallegly) ? Let me know tonight when my bloggers get back. Also, send in some pictures before I run out of cats.

Go to venturacountydemocrats.com for more details.

Here is a photo from the event with Laura Winchester and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi

If you know of an event you want me to post send me an e-mail.