A long time reader has submitted an opinion piece on The Ventura Chamber of Commerce and its tactics in the upcoming election. Click continue reading to read it.

For all the Ventura candidates, their supporters , and interested parties. I received the following e-mail from a reader who wants to know where you stand on dealing with homelessness issues and its impacts on other residents.

Click on continue reading to read the letter.

Anyone hear something about that development by what is called Smiley Face Hill?

Anybody support Ron Paul?

tell us if you plan to donate on November 5th.

The above commercial is one of the best this cycle has offered us thus far.

John McCain is the Republican candidate with the most gravitas by far. Sometimes when I see him up there with the other candidates I wonder what it must feel like to be compared to people that became conservative about 2005 or so...

Anyways, has anyone heard if Gallegly has endorsed someone in the GOP primaries? I know Strickland is supporting Romney but I am curious what Elton Gallegly thinks. Back in 2000 Gallegly sent out a mailer featuring John McCain so i wouldn't be surprised to find out he is a McCainiac again.

The Star's political writer Timm Herdt has an article on the upcoming Dantona/Jackson race.

Read it by clicking here.

The above video is from a WM strike in South LA. I have never heard anything about labor being upset with WM locally but is that about to change? Is there a chance the strike will spread?

Here is a story from the strikers' perspective. If you have further insight please leave a link for us to read.

Fire.

Now that the governor has signed Sheila Kuehl's bill ( No thanks to Tom McClintock but anyone see how Strickland and Smyth voted?) turning Rocketdyne into a park I imagine more attention will be focused on the Runkle Canyon project.

I received an action alert from an anti-development group about their plans.

Click on continue reading to see the whole e-mail.

For all other groups, I post from all sides of an issue not because I agree with them but because it helps us all stay informed.

The Star had an editorial today asking readers to support measure c7, a tax plan for the city of Ventura.

How are you Venturans voting on it?

Looks like the anti-teletubbie brigade will have to put down their SpongeBob pitchforks and go burn some Harry Potter books.

The second half of the above video has former Assembly member Tony Strickland talking about why he supports Mitt Romney for president. He talks about shrinking the size of government, not raising taxes, and vetoing a bill to give drivers' licenses to illegal aliens.

I was reading Socalpundit.com and the top story is that Mitt Romney's wife is coming to the area to talk about faith and values.

I wonder if she was always conservative or if she changed over the last few years with her husband.

Any Romney supporters want to give a shout out?

Mark Gage of Thousand Oaks attended the Jim Dantona fund raiser. For a change of pace go leave a comment over at his blog about the event.

I will write my thoughts in the future.

( Former Assembly woman, Hannah-Beth Jackson. Has any Simi Valley Democrat seen her around this end of the county? I have seen her at a few events going back to 2000 but mostly in the West County)

Hannah-Beth Jackson, former state assembly woman, is set to announce she is running for the state senate tomorrow.

Normally CA-19 would be considered a safe district but for some reason two Democrats ( HBJ and Jim Dantona) now will be vying for the seat currently held by Tom McClintock who is likely to be termed out. Do they see weakness in the candidacy of Tony Strickland or a nation wide tide against the Republican party? What is motivating two serious Democrats to jump into a race that a year ago was being written off by pundits?

I think the election still favors Tony Strickland but with the addition of Hannah Beth Jackson there will be even more attention on this seat. Prepare for the most expensive state senate race ever.

( one of the most watched videos on youtube tagged Simi Valley)

All the cool kids call it the SSFL instead of Rocketdyne I guess. I am trying to get the toxic stew from the place to be called Boeing Juice. If you will help out with that nomenclature I'd appreciate it. Whatever blogger came up with that one, thank you.

Anyways, Peter Foy has a press release about his efforts to nudge Boeing into cleaning up the facility and then making it into a park. Who else deserves credit for making this happen?

My vote is for State Senator Sheila Kuehl who has been very outspoken on behalf of local citizens even when Tom McClintock seems to not be very interested in the issue.

Click on continue reading for the press release.

( Retired Lt. Governor of Maryland Kathleen Kennedy Townsend)

The Jim Dantona for State Senate fund raiser is this Thursday night in Simi Valley. Jim Dantona and Tony Strickland are both looking to raise a large amount of money. I have seen reports that Tony Strickland has already raised more than $400,000 for this race. Is that true?

It looks like Simi Valley will be ground zero for one of the most expensive senate races in California history if both sides follow through on their fund raising plans.

If you are an aspiring political activist I'd suggest getting a new copy of your resume in front of the campaigns.

The campaign has given out free tickets to a few local bloggers so I am sure there will be plenty of photos to go around. I will post links to the other blogs after the event is over.

If your blog plans to cover the event feel free to leave a link here.

So, who's going?

Another day, another anti-walmart rally.

Click on continue reading for details.

Walmart is a strange store. I hear people say all the time they wouldn't shop there but yet the place seems to be packed.

Are there any Walmart shopppers proud enough to put their name down as shopping there?

The place lost its magic for me when they took out the gyro wheel where you could put change in and watch it spin down. Anyone know what that device is called?

Brett Wagner has resigned as the official head of the think tank that he started. To read his e-mail click on continue reading.

Bob Folger is an east coast resident that found this blog using google. Since then he has been sharing his story of the expansion of his local landfill and the tactics used by both sides.

Bob has sent out another update that includes the fact that he was inspired by the survey done in Simi Valley by Barbra Williamson's Task force. Barbra, is the task force putting together a website? I bet Brian Mack could put together a site that would host all the official findings in one place, plus agendas, meeting times, and links press coverage. I am plugging Mack's skills. Take a look at the graphics on his blog. I strongly encourage candidates to consider hiring him because of his skill.

Click on continue reading for details including the full text of Bob Folger's e-mail. Bob has WM contacted you recently?

And for the record, I have never met Bob Folger nor have I investigated his claims. The polls he is conducting clearly are to 1. Find out public opinion and 2. Influence the public against WM's plans.

I would be interested in a neutral party running a poll.

Former ( updated: AND current) Democratic congressional candidate Mary Pallant has been bringing speakers to Ventura County to talk about politics. For the latest event click on continue reading.

Christy Weir, a candidate for Ventura City Council, is running ads on the Star's site.

I want you to know I have no control over the ads and have never spoken to anyone from sales .

If an ad appears here don't construe it as an endorsement of her campaign. Nor should that last statement be taken as a slight towards her.

So, what other unique ways are candidates engaging voters in Ventura?

Major Poker tournament coming up in Simi Valley. Who's going? It's for a good cause.

Bill Fulton ( click here for his myspace.com account) has updated his blog with a detailed explanation about an ordinance that could block a WalMart from being developed in Ventura.

Bill, all other issues set aside for a minute I think it is great you have a blog to communicate directly with the citizens of Ventura. Hopefully more VC politicians will follow your example. I really like the section where you say something nice about almost every one of your opponents.

His blog is well read by movers and shakers and his recent post about his views on Walmart are no different. A union backed anti-Walmart group ( click here to see their local website ) to issue a response. Click on continue reading to see their response word for word.

I am picking up some new readers that don't understand how my blog works. I am not here to tell you everything I feel about every issue. Instead I want this to be a place where people that really care about Ventura County politics gather to engage in robust debate as they read what's going on.

To that end if you have a press release from a local group I normally post every one that comes in. My posting it does not mean I agree or disagree with the content of the press release.

But back to the Ventura City Council race. The Star recently printed a fund raising article that details how much the candidates have raised. As expected incumbents have more access to and have raised more money. But rather surprising Mike Gibson who has supporters on this website didn't raise much. Is this a sign he is planning to self fund or rather he isn't taking the race seriously?

Let us know.

The Star's article also has a list of candidate's forums. If you attend send in photos or videos and I will post them.

The senior senator of California, Diane Feinstein, will be in Santa Clarita.

The event is open to the public.

Click on continue reading for details.

Anyone planning on going? If you could what is the one question you would ask her? in 2000, I asked her if there was any chance she would consider being a VP candidate in that election. She basically said no.