A group supporting publically financed elections is holding a local meeting to organize to support the Ballot Proposition.

Click here for their website.

Click on continue reading for their press release on the local event.

I know some of their local supporters including Jay Kapitz. During the 2008 primaries Jay was a great local organizer for Barack Obama. I normally would think something like this doesn't have much of a chance but with the support of someone like Jay they appear to be very serious.

( Check out this animal rights video that Das Wiliams introduces.)

Das Williams has sent out a press release announcing more endorsements, this time from women leaders. The 35th State Assembly primary for Democrats is between Susan Jordan and Das Williams. Both of them agree on most policies so showing their support from various Democratic constituencies is going to be critical.

I don't live in the district but my top issues would be creating an environment that sparks more private sector job growth and reforming the state budget. What are your top issues?

Check out my interview with Das Williams here.

Susan Jordan, who is running for the nomination of the Democratic Party for State Assembly, launched her website. Susan, the site looks good. I look forward to you adding more content to it.

Her opponent in the primary, Das Williams, has a website under construction.

Check it out.

I don't see a web prescence for Mike Stoker beyond his Facebook page. The top result when I searched Mike Stoker State Assembly was this blog.

I will post an entry when they launch their sites.

In the latest LA Times poll Meg Whitman is leading with Tom Campbell behind her. In third place is Insurance commissioner Steve Poizner. Now that Gavin Newsom dropped out I am wondering who will drop out next.

Tom Campbell has done an amazing job reaching out to moderates and Democrats. I interviewed him months ago and he has the ability to reach out to new voters for the Republican Party.

After this terrible poll for Steve Poizner will he be dropping out next? His personal wealth can

I haven't heard more of the rumor that Ventura County Supervisor and Americans for Prosperity / Tea Party leader Peter Foy is considering running for governor. I'd expect the time window is quickly closing on him.

In other Tea Party news I stopped posting about the local Tea Party group after they posted an article that said Barack Obama committed treason and that he wasn't born in the United States of America. There are many groups that have used the Tea Party moniker, some more mainstream than others.

Check out my unscientific poll of my readers:

Check out the posts from Das Williams and Susan Jordan:

First Susan posts that she met Lilly Ledbetter at the recent Ventura County Democratic Party Kennedy Legacy event. Then minutes later Das Williams posts that he too watched the speech.

To summarize:

Susan Jordan posts that she attended the Lilly Ledbetter speech. A few minutes later Das Williams posts that he went to the Lilly Ledbetter speech. Then a few minutes after that Susan Jordan tops him by posting a picture of her with Lilly Ledbetter and announces that she has Ledbetter's endorsement.

Sure it could all be a coincidence but it looked funny to me.

The Marta Jorgensen campaign sent out a press release announcing their addition of a new field director to their staff.

Click on continue reading for details.

Marta Jorgensen was at the last Simi Valley Democratic Club meeting campaigning. That was a reminder that the district is huge. It goes from Simi Valley all the way to Solvang.

UPDATE: Tim Allison has another endorsement to announce. Click on continue reading for details.

Tim Allison was at the Democratic Club meeting in Simi Valley last Wednesday night. He spoke about why he is the best Democrat for the challenge.

The seat is currently held by Republican Elton Gallegly. If you follow my blog you know my consistent complaint about Rep. Gallegly is that he doesn't like to hold free and scheduled events like town hall meetings. In the last few months the other area members of congress members of both parties have hosted town hall meetings on healthcare. Both Rep. Capps and Rep. McKeon held town hall events on healthcare.

Town Hall Forums are great because politicians are forced to deal with tough questions and their answers are on the record.

I would also like to see Rep. Capps and Rep. Gallegly debate healthcare insurance reform. If I get support for that idea I will call her office and request Rep. Capps challenge Rep. Gallegly. Would you like to see them debate?

Republican State Board of Equalization member criticized the Ventura County Republican Central Committee for escalating the fundraising race for the open seat on the Board of Equalization ( BoE). Here is the post from his blog:

***Party Endorsements Insult Voters***

Our California political system makes party nominees and the party the focus of the November general election. However, for the June primary election the candidates are on their own. Although the state and local parties have the legal power they rarely intervene in a primary fight
and should never do so without some overriding reason where the endorsement helps the party. Never until a week ago when the Ventura County Republican Central Committee endorsed a candidate for my job, and I am told they did so with no candidate debate, and in fact only one candidate invited. I am termed-out of my position on the Board of Equalization and there are 4 candidates pursuing the campaign. There is no reason in the world that the Republican Party voters in the 2nd District should not be allowed to choose their own nominee without party interference. This is an insult to the Republican voters in the 2nd District.

Now Barbara Alby (whom I have endorsed), Alan Nakanishi, and Roy Ashburn will have no political choice but to go after county central committee endorsements. I regret this. It was a dumb and unnecessary move for Ventura County to change the nature of the race. As political activists and campaign law specialists know when the party does endorse then party resources can be spent on their candidate and money can be legally laundered to the party in amounts higher than would be legal for the candidate to accept personally. So the other candidates have no choice now but to go after official party endorsements in other counties. And with 34 counties in the 2nd District every county committee is going to come under pressure. Ventura has unleashed a free-for-all for legal campaign laundering.

http://www.billleonard.org/

Endorsements are critical to communicate with voters for a low visibility position. I understand why candidates would pursue endorsements as a way to send a signal of their values and views. Raising money for a position like this must also be especially difficult. There is always interest group money but that comes with risks. There is money from personal friends but that might not go far enough.

Getting endorsements from party organizations is critical to raise Ideological money in a contested primary. Getting this endorsement will help George Runner introduce himself to voters and will help him raise money. But is Bill Leonard right that the chain reaction is going to be a problem?

This entry is for discussion, comments, or feedback on my interview with Marie Panec.

The interview entry above is just for our interview.

Click here for her website.

This video of Tim Allison is from the recent Democratic Party Labor Day BBQ.

Democrat Tim Allison continues to earn endorsements from party leaders in his quest for the nomination of his party in the 24th congressional district ( currently Rep. Gallegly), his latest being from State Party leader Eric Bauman.

Click here for my interview with Eric Bauman.

Click here for his website.

Click on continue reading for his latest press release.

Here are more unscientific polls on Rep. Gallegly and those trying to replace him.

I am catching up on some entries later this week. Make sure to check back.

Susan Jordan, who is running for the Democratic Party nomination in the 35th State Assembly District, recently announced some law enforcement endorsements. For a Democrat running largely on her environmental protection background diversifying her base of support is critical. This announcement shows she is not a single issue candidate. I consider myself an environmentalist but there are many critical issues our state is going to need to deal with in the coming years.

I would like to see endorsements from people that want to reform education and from business groups next. I have invited Susan Jordan to come on here for an interview when she gets a chance. I have already interviewed Republican Mike Stoker and Democrat Das Williams.

The winner of the Democratic Party nomination is expected to be the prohibitive favorite in the general election.

Tim Allison, candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for the 24th congressional district, has a fundraiser scheduled in Camarillo next week. Click on continue reading for details. Complaining about the need for candidates to start early reminds me of people complaining that stores seem to put up holiday displays earlier each year. But doesn't it seem like there is never a time without elections anymore? My blog traffic hasn't changed much from the time before the presidential election!

I am not going but if you do go send me any pictures you want posted.

Side Note: I am working on my response to the outcome of the trial of State Assembly Member Audra Strickland's Chief of Staff. I will get it up this week. Wait for that entry to share your thoughts. If you can't wait then go to the comments section of one of the numerous news stories on the Star's main page. Thanks.