This Gibson is either trying to tell us it's time for Monahan to go or he's just stupid and forgot Monahan has been using clovers since the Pleistocene era. Neither one will get my vote. Heard Gibson had his signs up too early and violated local campaign laws. tsk tsk

Better gossip: Who is doing the push poll against Neal Andrews?

I believe I heard that Gibson was actually born in Ireland, whereas Monahan only has Irish heritage. In any case, Monahan doesn't own the patent on shamrocks.

It's true that Monahan has been on the Council since the Pleistocene era. Time for change!

The push poll against Neal Andrews is being conducted by the public safety unions. He pissed them off royally when he came out strongly against the 911 fee and was the only City Council member who voted against putting the half-cent sales tax measure on the ballot.

By the way: I have never used cover in my signs, nor literature.

Denis O'Leary
President, Oxnard School District board of Trustees

I would also like to know who is doing the push poll against Neal as well.

As my girlfriend said, of all the millions of logos - why shamrocks? I asked Jim M. about it - he said he doesn't mind because it means that people will probably think the signs are for him. Odd that both Jim and Mike are the only ones that have signs up right now.

Interesting rationale from Monahan that he thinks people will think Gibson's signs are for him. He seems to have forgotten one small detail - the name.

One more reason this guy needs to go. He seems to have lost touch with reality.

Gibson didn't forget Monahan used the shamrock, he didn't know. He has only lived in Ventura a short time.

Camille Harris has signs up now.

Who doesn't love a shamrock? In watching a special on Ted Kennedy yesterday, I found that Caroline Kennedy even had shamrocks (white that is) on her wedding dress!

The robo-calls targeting Neal Andrews have Mike Gibson written all over them. Just his style with the dirty tricks. This guy makes Nixon look like an amateur.

As for the shamrocks, I wonder if the other Irish candidates (Brian Brennan and Camille Harris) will use them. Then you've got Neal Andrews (a Scotsman). Will he wear kilts to the candidate forums? The drama builds...

Brian:

What's to explain? They both like Clovers..

Actually, Gibson's signs show the four-leaf clover, which is the universal symbol of Good Luck..

And Monahan’s signs display the Shamrock, a three-leaf clover, which as such is mainly the Irish Catholic symbol of the Holy Trinity, yet Monahan is an Orange, not Green Irishman..

As to Brian Brennan, because of his name, he has a more direct lineage and greater claim to use the Clairseach, (i.e. Brian Boru's medieval harp within a wreath of clover) which far more than the Shamrock, is the more powerful symbol of Irish Nationalism.. The Clairseach is the Irish symbol most often found on a bright green flag with the words, "Erin go Bragh," under it..

Camille will just have to pick her own variation of Irish symbolism, based on how she internalizes her pride in her Celtic ancestry..

Regardless of where all of our ancestors come from, the United States is a nation of immigrants, and as such, has benefited greatly from the courage, strength and innovation that waves of immigration has brought to this great Country..

After all, no less a Great American of Irish descent, Ronald Reagan said, "..To be a Frenchman, one must be born in France, and Englishman, one must be born in England, but to be an American, one must love Liberty to the core.."

E Pluribis Unumn!

Ciao Americanos, All!

NostraDemus

On Gibson's campaign violation, I understand he simply paid the FPPC fine and marched on like nothing happened. Must be nice to have money to burn.

Mike Gibson's rainbow doesn't lead to a pot of gold; it leads to a Walmart and the death of a cities eclectic culture.

The voters need to grab the unicorn by the horn; and stop Mike Gibson.

So he doesn't even know election laws and he expects to be elected to a position of making laws? Incredible. Beginning to understand why Brian keeps putting entries up on him. It just keeps getting funnier.

Gibson never had a thought of his own. He marches to the tune of Kunicki and Osborn who goose step to Strickland.

To stay on the Irish theme, the whole campaign sign violation allegation is a bunch of mullarkey. Mike didn't violate any campaign laws. His signs went up in total compliance with the City's political sign regulations (within 90 days of election day). I should know because I put some up myself.

These repeat posters (like Nobody, whom I'm sure is posting under multiple fake names) are just a bunch of whining, anti-business, Democrat Party stooges who support maintaining the status quo in Ventura and reelecting the same old fools over and over again.

"Nobody" claims Mike is out to destroy the City's "eclectic culture" (code words for living in the past). I am supporting Mike Gibson because I know he stands for change and progress. The rest of you dopes can keep doing the same thing over and over until our City is finally ruined.

Go Gibson how can you complain about someone posting under multiple fake names. Sure sounds like mike posting under yet another fake name to create a false impression. I wonder of Go Gibson is posting on a government owned computer the way Mike does.

Gibson will follow the Strickland "MO" (play on words - didn't mean Mike Osborn, but come to think of it, if the shoe fits):
Break the rules, pay the fines and get into office. The county and the FPPC are not inclined to do anything to remove someone from office unless they have done something egregious. A fine is a small price to pay when you think of the political power over city and employee contracts.

Shamrock, stop making things up. If you really believe there was a campaign violation, all you have to do is check with the City Clerk's Office. There was no violation, I assure you.

Who's this Brian Leshon dude? What a freekin' nerd! What are you, the computer nanny? Welcome to the 21st century, homes. Someone like Gibson probably uses a blackberry or an I-phone for God's sake. I'm sure he doesn't need to rely on his work computer. Get a life, would you?

he he he

The signs were up Aug. 6. and they are posted on private property without permission. The owners of these properties are taking them down.

Hmmmm, now let's see if "Violation" can do some simple math. Is there 90 days between August 6th and November 3rd? According to my calculations, there is. Seems like "Violation" is a product of the public school system. So sad.

Besides some Democratic activists and Mike Gibson people don't care who is posting under what name on this entry. It is boring. You all have said the same things over and over. Maybe ignore him and he will go away.

It takes some pretty big shamrocks to put signs up on private property without the owners permission.

Gibson will need more than a lucky shamrock to win, even if he had a big truck load of shamrock he will still come in dead last.

Shamrocks aside, one thing is perfectly clear to me from this thread - MONAHAN NEEDS TO GO!!!

This guy can barely keep his eyes open at the City Council meetings every Monday night. It must be way past his bedtime. It's obvious he doesn't open his agenda packet until he reaches the dias.

He constantly loses his place on the agenda, doesn't seem to know what he's voting on half the time, makes random irrelevent comments during deliberations, and seems irritable and angry a good deal of the time (I attribute this to sleep deprivation).

The sad part about it is he'll probably be reelected by a landslide because Venturans just don't pay enough attention to City issues. And the ones who do have a vested interest in keeping the status quo alive and well.

I'll be voting for Gibson because, if nothing else, he will shake things up a bit at City Hall and that's what's desperately needed down there.

Shamrocks aside, one thing is perfectly clear to me from this thread - MONAHAN NEEDS TO GO!!!

This guy can barely keep his eyes open at the City Council meetings every Monday night. It must be way past his bedtime. It's obvious he doesn't open his agenda packet until he reaches the dias.

He constantly loses his place on the agenda, doesn't seem to know what he's voting on half the time, makes random irrelevent comments during deliberations, and seems irritable and angry a good deal of the time (I attribute this to sleep deprivation).

The sad part about it is he'll probably be reelected by a landslide because Venturans just don't pay enough attention to City issues. And the ones who do have a vested interest in keeping the status quo alive and well.

I'll be voting for Gibson because, if nothing else, he will shake things up a bit at City Hall and that's what's desperately needed down there.

We know all about the more well-known Irish candidates (Mike Gibson, Jim Monahan, Brian Brennan, and Camille Harris), but what about the other 2 lesser-known Irish candidates (Maureen O'Hara and Robert Dugan)? Where do they stand on shamrocks? Inquiring minds need to know...

By the list of candidates it appears there are only Irish people living in Ventura.

I agree. What's the deal with that? There has historically been a lack of diversity among the candidates that run for public office in Ventura even for the School Board.

When was the last time Ventura had an Hispanic or African-American City Council member, or even an Hispanic or African-American candidate?

ICE forgot to raid the shamrock fields.

My link is to a city report on the demographics of the City of San Buenaventura. I would think that every candidate would be interested in this.
Unfortunately, it doesn't have a subset showing how many Irish there are in town. :>)

No kiddin'. Those friggin' Leprechauns work for peanuts, don't they?

I LOVE your link!! So, the white population (63.4%) is expected to continue to decline and the hispanic population (28%) is expected to continue to rise. And at least half of the population is female. Now of that 63.4%, how many are Irish? And should there ever be a hispanic candidate, should he or she use some kind of enthnotypical motif? Or would that be viewed as "racist" or "innappropriate"?

Actually, there is a very high Irish population in Ventura, many of whom are long-time residents and like things the way they are. No wonder Monahan landslides in every time he runs.

hmmm - just how high is that Irish population?

Very high. And they all vote regularly. Brennan and Monahan have definitely benefited in the past from the Irish connection and it looks like Gibson is trying to tap into it this time. Whatever works, I guess.

Mike Gibson should have small potatoes on his signs.

I want a figure guestimation - is it 20%? 30%? 10%? 60%? Does the St. Paddy's day parade benefit the community or is it for candidates/incumbents with Irish names? The Christmas Fair was cancelled - maybe the parade should also be cancelled.

My guess is (and this is not scientific mind you) that approximately one-third of those voting in the City Council election are of Irish heritage. This bodes well for guys like Brennan and Monahan who have already established themselves within the local Irish community.

Gibson will probably benefit as well via his signs, especially when they find out he was born in Old Eire.

Wow! Both of these guys need to lose the shamrocks on their signs. And ditch the "they'll vote for me because I'm Irish" thinking. What about the critical issues and their stances on them? I guess they both feel those are unimportant.

Good one, Nobody. I agree, Gibson should either have small potatoes or huge huevos on his signs.

I hear Gibson has got the Carla Bonney anti-Obama machine working on his campaign too. She's the one who's been organizing all the Tea Party and anti-health care reform protests across the County. You know what they say about birds of a feather.

I sent her an e-mail that she should start endorsing. She shouldn't do all the work and have none of the glory. That is really stupid.

Hmmm, what's all the Gibson trashing about? That usually indicates people are worried. If they weren't concerned, they wouldn't even waste their time commenting.

I guess if Katie says it's stupid, it must be stupid.

Ron (Osborn) is the one who's worried. That's why he's monitoring this thread so much. He'll have egg on his face as GOP chair if Gibson loses AGAIN.

Believe me, I'm not a big Gibson fan, but I think the other candidates, with the exception of Mike Tracy, are all a bunch of unknowns and don't even seem to be putting any effort into it.

As it stands, him and Tracy seem to have the best shot at unseating one of the incumbents and "incumbency" has been a dirty word lately in politics.

Yeah, I'm so worried. Like the 5 people who regularly post on this blog are going to make a big difference in Mike's electability.

The real news in this election that nobody's talking about here is the desire for change in Ventura. There's a whole lot of dissatisfaction with what's going on at City Hall right now. That's going to be a huge factor in this election. That's where Mike Gibson outshines the other candidates by large margins.

This guy is a total unknown outside this blog where he's know only for making a jerk of himself under many aliases. He's a sideshow freak. Just another no-name wacko running for city council in Ventura.

Spoken like one of the 5 regulars who even post on this blog (straight from Mom & Dad's basement).

Spoken like one of the 5 regulars who even post on this blog (straight from Mom & Dad's basement).

A few Kennedys and they think they all can do it.

Gibson's the Man:

And there you are, spending your Friday evening talking to 5 people in a basement. LOL

I saw Matt Guthrie, one of Tony Strickland's aides, putting up Gibson's signs along Telephone Rd. yesterday. I guess we know who Gibson is getting his marching orders from these days.

I certainly hope that it wasn't done on the taxpayers dime.

At least Mike Gibson is out there working it. Jim Monahan is just phoning it in.

Guthrie's supporting his cousin, who is also running. He wouldn't be out doing gofer work for an unknown like this Gibson.

I disagree. He will do whatever Phony tells him to do.

I'd vote for Gibson before I'd vote for Neal Andrews that's for sure. This guy is anti-public safety and is using good, dedicated cops to try and build on his reputation as a so-called "fiscal watchdog".

We don't need grandstanding blowhards like Andrews on the City Council. Vote for Mike Tracy and Mike Gibson. At least they support our police force.

No on Andrew,
Can you find a police officer who supports Mike Gibson? Ah the tricky part.
Neal Andrews has back up. Where's yours?

No on Shamrock, yep, I'm a cop who supports Gibson and I know others who do too. The only back-up Andrews has is his big mouth. This guy does nothing but sit up there and self-righteously bloviate at city council meetings, relishing the sound of his own voice. I'm sorry, but if you work in public safety or know anyone who works in public safety you won't be voting for Andrews.

No on Andrews:

If you do work in public safety, then as a citizen, taxpayer and fellow public safety worker, I appreciate, salute and value all that you do..

However, as General Patton was fond of saying, "..If we're all thinking alike, no one is thinking.." So, sorry to burst your bubble, but many public safety workers, including me, are supporting and voting for Neal Andrews for City Council for a number of reasons..

Not because we agree with him on all, or even some fairly significant issues, because I don't. But because both by his words, and more importantly by his deeds, he demonstrates the essential qualities of political leadership desirable to see in a member of the City Council.

Namely, thoughtful consideration of diverse viewpoints, independent judgment regarding how he forges his balance point regarding those diverse viewpoints, and courageous integrity in telling the voters how it is, based on how he sees it.. Rare qualities indeed in politics these days, at the local, State AND National levels..

Further, the Ventura Police Officers Association might want to think twice before their understandable passion to protect their members' perceived retirement interests clouds their political judgment regarding Mr. Andrews considerable contribution towards the potential passage of the local sales tax measure this November.

The fact is that during these very difficult economic times, it may be that Mr. Andrews' insistence on forcing the City Council and Mr. Cole, kicking and screaming, to adopt clear principles on how sales tax increase monies would be spent could very well be the decisive factor in gaining passage of the local sales tax increase ballot measure by a majority, however slim, of Ventura's voters during this November election..

After all, based on the City funded poll of likely voters during this November's election, support for the local sales tax measure drops to a statistically adjusted, "dead-heat" after all the negatives are thrown in the mix..

So, all this remains very much in flux, especially as unemployment rolls grow, and conspicuous consumer consumption in Ventura remains very weak, and depending on how it is measured and by whom, arguably is declining.

So Ventura public safety workers, be careful what your association leadership does in this election. It may very well be that by rushing to political judgment in funding a dubiously worded and marginally legal push-poll, and deciding to oppose Mr. Andrews’s candidacy vigorously, they may so reduce public support for the local sales tax increase measure in the upcoming November election to a point that it loses.

The last thing you need is for your leaders to cut-off your public safety funding stream support noses to spite their anti-public safety pension reform opposition faces..

Ciao Ufficiale di Polizia!

NostraDemus

This is interesting reading these posts from supposed cops who support Gibson. Mikey boy, you have to quit pretending to be other people. We realize you are the only one who will post here on your own behalf. Sorry about that. The cops know you don't support public safety issues in the slightest. It's all about your extreme rightwing agenda and nothing else.

The only union Mike Gibson is in favor of is the Republicans. The Texas Republicans who support Mike Gibson want oil rigs offshore and Walmart. Those are the only reasons the local and the Texas Republicans support him.

In my opinion I forgot to say.

Nobody, your posts are always very funny but I'm confused on this one. Who are the Texas Republicans you are talking about?

Brian Katie is picking on me again.

Here is an article from last years L.A. Times:

Oil Companies in Texas want to drill off our shores. They are trying to put people like Mike Gibson in place to get it done.

One of Gibson's key supporters is Dean Kunicki, a VCRCC member and Simi Valley Unified School Board member, whose own campaigns for office have been financed by Texas developers and oil barons. Hmmmm...

In reference to Nobody's LA Times article, doesn't Gibson also work as Business Manager for Santa Barbara County Parks (which would potentially be the recipient of the Gaviota coast property for parkland)? Double hmmmm.....

It's a win win for Gibson. A couple years in office, accomplish his goals for the Texans, then back to his old job with a huge raise because the park is now so much bigger.

If elected:
Mike Gibson needs to excuse himself on issues relating to Santa Barbara parkland or sign a waiver that says he can't be a Business Manager for Santa Barbara County parks in the future.

Is Saperstein one of the Texans you are talking about? I believe he has contributed plenty to Kuniki, the Ventura County Republican Party,some members of the Simi Valley City Council to mention a few. I thought it was because of the plans he had to expands Humingbird Ranch in Simi but maybe it is broader. I believe he lives in Texas but I thought it was because of the tax advantage.

This makes sense now because after the divorce Mike Gibson is all he could afford.

We should be checking those campaign finance reports carefully to see if Mr. Saperstein's name shows up on them. If Gibson's anything like his mentor, Phony Tony, he'll probably launder it somehow.

Why would somebody donate money to both parties?

Saperstein, Suzanne
Los Angeles,CA 90077 Self employed/Entrepreneur 9/19/08 $28,500 DNC Services Corp (D)

Saperstein, Suzanne Mrs
Los Angeles,CA 90077 Homemaker/Homemaker 9/26/08 $28,500 Republican National Cmte (R)

Easy answer, Investigative Blogger:
No matter who wins or is in political power, you have potential influence and "special invitations."

I keep forgetting that's legal.

The amount also seems higher than what I thought was allowed. What's with that?

The bottom line is we should be checking Gibson's FPPC reports closely. He's got a ton of first-class signs spread all over town and his brochure looks like it cost a bundle too. Somebody is sugar-daddying this guy.

It appears Tony Strickland has passed along his highly advanced door hanger technology to Mike Gibson.

Yep, and apparently his campaign workers too. I heard Strickland aide, Matt Guthrie, is working for Gibson now. They want to get this guy elected to City Council so they can groom him for bigger things. Despicable!

He is not being groomed for "bigger things" because he has shot himself in the foot too many times. Fake letters to the editor, attacks on women both under his real name and transparent screen personas. Wasting tax payer money blogging from work.

I bet the above post was generated by a Gibson supporter.

The previous few posts are hilarious! No way would Strickland have anything to do with this Gibson clown. He's never held an office before..........why would he waste his time?

It's called back scratching. I think Gibson was a big supporter of Strickland's in his last election. In fact, as I recall, there was some $$-funnelling going on there.

Oh c'mon. Where is some proof? All this speculation is making me sick. I won't believe any of these lies until Strickland himself makes a statement about Gibson.

Watch Gibson's FPPC reports for the following:
Ed Atsinger, Camarillo
Salem Communications
Ventura County Republican Party, funneling Strickland donors money to Gibson. This money does not have the money limits that individual donors have, and could be in the thousands of dollars
Saperstein and other Texas oil/developer money
Dean Kunicki connections

Strickland knows how to ask donors to send money to other county Republican parties, like San Bernardino, Riverside and others, then they donate to the Ventura County Republican Party, where they use if for any cause/candidate of Strickland's liking. The executive director for the Ventura County Republican Party is also an employee of the Stricklands.

Kira - see link - enough of a connection for you?

The Ventura County Republican Party has no other race to get involved this fall with than the Ventura City Council race. Expect big money to be spent on Gibson in a generic sort of way.

Chris Collier was also involved in Jeff Bennett sucessful run for Judgeship last elections. Jeff was the investigative lawyer for all of Strickland's financial misdeeds - which went nowhere. He is now listed as a contributor. He was also endorsed by TS and Audra (even as they were telling his opponent that they would endorse/help him). And evidently everyone and his brother knows about Jeff Bennett's "mighty whitey" license plate holder. As was observed he was "felony stupid" to do that.

Follow the $$$ - Neal Andrews is on the Central Committee (though Mike Osborn is probably still mad at him because he won back in early 2000's over MO) and Jim Monohan is also a Republican that will want money. Heck, Mike Tracy probably wants money. Gibson has weak endorsements compared to the other guys so I don't think it is Strickland money.

Fiction from Gibson. The truth is he's running around looking for help, has no endorsements. Calling notorious Democratic political consultants in desperation. With the $275 limits on contributions and max cap, he can't do much self financing. No way the Reps will come in to help this clown and even then they can only contact other Reps in a Dem town. They are limited by finance controls too. But he can dream on in the blogosphere. He's nobody. His mailer is a piece o crap.

There are no limits to what the Republican Party can spend on Republicans running in these races. They call in "member communications" and they don't fall under the $275 limit. So, expect thousands to go into this race, unless Gibson is such a loser his own party won't try and help him get a seat. It would be a feather in Mike Osborn's tiny cap to have Gibson win.

All you who think that the VCRCC won't back Gibson are naive. What you fail to understand is it's all about loyalty with these guys. Mike Osborn is behind Gibson all the way and that's all it takes. He calls the shots over there. He can't stand Andrews because he still holds a grudge against the guy when he beat him by a couple hundred votes a couple of elections ago. He could care less about Monahan because the guy doesn't follow a strict ideology. Trust me, Gibson will get their support whether it's overtly or covertly.

I find it quite humorous how all these people who rant about what a big loser and a nobody Mike Gibson is seem to be the ones who hang out on this thread the most and post messages about him at every opportunity.

Good points, Hilarity. These people need to get a life and actually do something themselves, besides sitting at their keyboards in Mom and Dad's basement and living vicariously through Gibson and other candidates for office.

I've asked several people who live/work in Ventura and they are not aware of Ventura having any higher population of "irishness" than the rest of the nation. In fact, it was observed that Ventura is a real mixed bag. So maybe commerical property owners and/or business owners are Irish? Don't know. But I do have a problem with ethnotyping. Barak would get SLAMMED if he did it.

I own a business downtown and I was born in Donegal, Ireland. Mike Gibson has my vote and I even allowed him to put a sign up in front of my restaurant. You've got Dargan's down the road from us, the Claddagh School of Irish Dancing in the mid-town, and Paddy's. I know there's a few of us around town already and more on the way.

Same guy blogging about himself over and over under different names. This thread is boring.

If you actually had a downtown business you would know that Paddy's is not an Irish bar. It is something else quite entirely.... Not a bad thing, but not Irish. Quit making stuff up on blogs Gibson. You're a fool.