Brian,

Let me start by saying that Mr. Stern looks like a bright capable young man and kudos to him for entering this race. My sincerest hope is many regular folks will enter into these Congressional races throughout America. Indeed, I address this precise issue in my upcoming essay (Rod Blagojevich, An American Hero). Below are some questions that I have for Mr. Stern:

1. Are you getting 3000 signatures or paying the $1,652 fee to register?

2. Where did you get the funds to start the website, etc?

3. Do you have any current contributors? If so, who?

4. What steps, if any, have you taken to learn about the concerns of the 24th District?

5. What is your current registered political party?

6. You graduated from UCLA in 2004, yet you are 31, why did it take you so long to graduate?

7. The 24th District’s voting population is older, based upon your age; do you believe that you have had sufficient life experience to understand its concerns?

8. So far what is the greatest obstacle you have overcome?

9. You say that tips should not be taxed, why?

Good luck Shawn,

Martin

I would like to hear more from Shawn and Martin did an excellent job to start the conversation.

Mr. Stern,

You graduated in 2004 from UCLA yet our current Congressman Misrepresentative Elton Gallegly started college in 1962 and still hasn't finished.

In the event you lose to Elton Gallegly. Could you tutor him so our District can have a Congressman that has a college degree? The kids in the district are wondering why they should go have to go college when our Elton Gallegly didn't graduate from college.

Martin,

In the blog post I mentioned he is running for the nomination of the Democratic Party.

Candidates file reports with the FEC which will allow people to look at his donations.

In your next essay are mentioning local politicians?

Elected officials from both parties are more concerned about getting re-elected and serving special interests rather than serving the voters. Are you going to Washington to serve yourself or to serve the people?

I just looked at the Voter Stats and it appears that the Republicans have about a 6 point advantage over the Dems (41.88 versus 38.84) with 17.69% being DTS.

There have been two disasterous outcomes in recent years for the Dem primaries. I think Jill Martinez will also run. Do either of you have a shot at winning against an incumbent?

Jill Martinez is running again? Puhleeze! I guess the Democrats don't want to win this seat if that's the best they can do.

He claims he's an educator very prominently in a few places on his site, but the only evidence I see in his background is that he taught chess to young kids in his spare time (while in college?). That's a bit of a stretch and a turn off, and not a legal profession for his ballot listing if it's been over a year since you've "educated," I believe. I think NEA/CTA & AFT/CFT would take issue - and he would need them.

I hope people are on to that game. It puts him in the league of Jorgensen the educator and Strickland the environmentalist. Not good company. I get the sense he's better than that.

My advice - don't go there. You don't need to. Clean that up now before people start using it against you. Just be honest.

To Educator

I would like to put to rest this notion that has been perpetuated by certain people that I lied about my designation and am not to be trusted.

In truth I was an educator because I had a private computer training school, taught GED classes, taught children in a private school computer skills and journalism, taught seniors their first computer skills and also job retraining. This was over a 7 year period. I took the risk of starting a business from nothing and learning it thoroughly. Before that I was a nurse for 27 years in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
No I was not an RN. I was an LVN and did not belong to a union. Being a nurse also requires a certain level of educating.

There are many kinds of educators. It seemed a logical choice of words.

Do not put me in the same category as Tony Strickland. He really does lie.

I think people voted for me because they resonated with the message. Not with the name.

I am planning to run again and have been putting together a new team. I am not a novice now and am not as likely to be intimidated by these kinds of verbal manipulations.

It's too bad you don't take the problems of the world seriously. Believe me I do.

That's why I run. Not for the party's ideology but for the public.

I would hope you would take the time to know the person and not the "ballot designation" this time around.

Respectfully,
Marta Jorgensen

Marta,

Have you been teaching since the last campaign?

Brian:

Well, at last, a breath of fresh political air in the 24th CD..

Mssr. Stern appears to be an intelligent, sprightly chap, who demonstrates an intuitive understanding of the relationship between economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

Further, given the fact that he is a owner of a green-small business, he clearly understands that a rising green-economic sea, not a bevy of bureaucratic hyper-regulators, raises all business boats. Refreshing and different from a number of past Democratic candidates, who assume that wealth is created in the public, not private sectors.

Regarding his campaign platform, "...create jobs, improve our local economy, and protect our environment,.." he's got it dead right, and in the right order, in my book.

Also the fact that he was a member of the Philosophy Club at UCLA, participated in the FBI/DEA Citizen Academy and taught Chess to primary school students, demonstrates a well-rounded commitment to integrating the mind, heart and soul in his public service.

Finally, given that his father is an accomplished concert violinist, and his mother a reknown horse breeder, his early years were clearly grounded in the best of all worlds, a loving family with a mix of music, horsemanship, and competition.

By all accounts, at least those appearing on his well-designed website, he appears to be a bright, new star in the local Democratic firmament, and I for one, welcome his entry into the race..

NostraDemus

Educator,

Please give Mr. Stern a chance to explain why he listed himself as an educator. Perhaps, it will make total sense once he does. He's never been a politician before so in my book, he's the frontrunner. BTW, I have 3 teenagers so trust me, although I am not a teacher, I am definitely an educator.

Martin

It looks like he's added the following to his site, since I last checked & commented: "It was during this period that Shawn developed a love for helping and educating the developing minds of kids and has worked as a private tutor in science, math, history and philosophy ever since."

This helps clarify why he calls himself an educator. All it said before was that he taught kids chess in college in his spare time.

According to Elections Code on ballot designations: "no more than three words designating either the current principal professions, vocations, or occupations of the candidate, or...during the year immediately preceeding the filing of nomination documents." The chess thing didn't quite cut it. Tutoring "ever since" is closer.

Honestly, I was just trying to help him tighten up his message at this early stage in the game before he started hitting the pavement, and it looks like he's starting to do that. That happened to be something I thought he could tighten up and seemed out of character with the rest of his attributes and perspectives, which are honorable. Like I said, "he seems better than that," and there's nothing I'd like to see more than a strong Dem candidate for Congress or Assembly to rally behind. If he's the one, let's start shaping him up!

If everyone is going to start calling themselves educators (parents, IT guys, nurses, animal trainers, store managers, bank tellers...all of which do have educational components), then I hope people will start seeing through that and demanding more specific, transparent ballot designations (any of the above, or tutor, teacher, administrator...). The same goes for "environmentalist" - is that your trained profession or do you just care about the environment?

Marta,

Quotes are yours below...

"In truth I was an educator because I had a private computer training school, taught GED classes, taught children in a private school computer skills and journalism, taught seniors their first computer skills and also job retraining. This was over a 7 year period."

1) Was this within 1 year of your filing? (see comment above for ballot designation codes)

2) If not, the logical wasn't the legal choice of words. If so, great, but why didn't you tell me this at a fundraiser I attended specifically for the purpose of getting to know you early in the race? I tried to build a bridge with you by saying, "I hear you're an educator, so am I, what do you teach?" I genuinely wanted to know, but you immediately got defensive and said something like, "People are trying to twist that" (red flag). I said, "Oh, so what do you teach?" You said, "I taught some computer classes." Period. Similarly, when I asked why you were running, you said, "Oh you know, the usual." Period. There was plenty of time to chat. In fact, the dead space was awkward as I tried to give you time to tell me more, in case you were thinking. Those are things to work on (conversation, message, connecting with people), if you'll be running again.

"Do not put me in the same category as Tony Strickland. He really does lie." I never said you or Tony lied or couldn't be trusted, but people did question both of your authenticities based on your ballot designations, and I don't think that's a direction Shawn wants to go as a candidate. Not good company. He could learn from your experiences. I was trying to help him avoid that.

"I think people voted for me because they resonated with the message. Not with the name."

I respectfully disagree. I attended a couple of events where you spoke (or could have spoken) with about as friendly a crowd as you could possibly have had. You simply did not have a message prior to the primary. What you had was a high Dem-turnout primary with lots of people (not all) who only paid attention to the presidential candidates, then chose between an educator, someone in insurance, and someone in real estate for Congress. The educator won. After the primary, you had the Dem wave that you referred to so often in your speeches.

"I am planning to run again and have been putting together a new team. I am not a novice now and am not as likely to be intimidated by these kinds of verbal manipulations. It's too bad you don't take the problems of the world seriously. Believe me I do. I would hope you would take the time to know the person and not the "ballot designation" this time around."

See above. I did take the time to try to get to know you, and even tried to defend you once you were the Dem candidate, when other very loyal Dems were seriously considering voting for Gallegly. Your response here says a lot more about you than me. You made a lot of assumptions about me and chose to attack instead of connect. If you're going to run again, you might want to work on that too.

There are at least two other viable Democratic candidates out there. Marta, Shawn, you will have plenty of company.

Marta Jorgensen,

Will you be endorsing Jill Mattinez again?

No, I think Jill will be endorsing Marta this time. Maybe they should both the endorse each other thus cancelling each other out of the race.

Too funny! I don't think the Republicans have anything to worry about in this race.

How long have you been thinking Republicans have nothing to worry about? Did something extraordinary happen in the last few hours to change everyone’s opinion of Republicans? Republicans have plenty to worry about.

It's a little bit of a pet peave of mine when I hear Republicans brag about Elton Gallegly. The 24th is a gerrymandered mess which was created for politically handicapped Republicans like Elton Gallegly.

The fact of the matter is Elton Gallegly's usefullness; if there was any, is over. He serves this district no good with the current political enviorment.

Bush Republican Elton Gallegly is not who we want representing us and he's not representative of who we are.

He's fine with me, Nobody. You seem to be the only one complaining here.

Do you seriously think Marta or Jill stand a chance though? C'mon now, seriously?

Marta have you saved up enough for gas money to come down to Simi Valley this time to campaign? Have you paid your campaign manager? Will you raise more than $2,300 this time?