I love this video and I think it is an ode to a former politician who did a similar "fast" spot. He references the guy on his FB account. He is very charming and personable in this. I hope it goes viral (well as viral as a political ad goes) on youtube.

This video is Pedro's version of Paul Wellstone's 1990 "Fast Paul" campaign commercial. Please visit www.pedronava.com and become a supporter!

Looks like Katie's become a victim of sound bite mania, like the rest of the jaded world. BTW, I thought Pedro was a Democrat and Katie claims to be a Republican.

Ahhh well, what does support of candidates matter when you're a famous flip-flopper like Katie?

It is a great video! No demon sheep in it.

I'm all for campaign ads without demon sheep. or without Carly Fiorina

I love this video, too, because it really shows Pedro's personality, which is very friendly and very energetic. And he has a great sense of humor -- and gets things done.

Thanks for posting it, Brian.

I agree, great commercial. So what?

There are many crappy American products that have great commercials.

Mr. Nava seems like a nice man. But how does that make him qualified to be AG?

I honestly don't know a thing about this guy but after watching his video, here are my initial impressions:

1. Professional politician needs another job;

2. Very wealthy, rich guy thinks he knows more than the rest of us. Nice house, what's the square footage and does it have a whirlpool bath?

3. Did he really just say that the Humane Society is supporting him? How does that endorsement have anything to do with being an AG? The fact that he mentioned that tells me this guy has no clue how to be an AG. I love my dog as much as the next guy -- but he doesn't need the equal enforcement of our laws; and

4. This commercial demonstrates everything that is wrong with American politics as there is no substance to it. It’s just a marketing piece developed by campaign consultants who try to hit as many “feel-good” areas that might resonate with the Santa Barbara/Ventura County affluent crowd. Sorry, Joe Consultant, message back-fired on this voter. Here’s a real topic for you to handle: Mr. Nava, how will you balance California’s need to bring back new industries and companies with the AG’s role in ensuring equal application of the State’s laws? In other words, are you more a Cuomo or a Holder?

Okay, then I have two questions:

What amateur, poor, animal-hating, angry malcontent polluter who does not really want the job would you vote for?

And what kind of an ad would he (or she) run to convince voters?

We like commericals with lot's a sheep in skimpy outfits.

Now THAT's the way to grab the dialogue, Harold! Good response.

I know this is off topic but I can't stop wondering....What was Roy Ashburn (R) thinking about every time he voted against a gay issue? I am truly bewildered.

No kidding GS - and he was married with kids to boot.

1. Pedro has only been a politician 6 out of his 61 years.

2. He is not wealthy at all and that house is rather small, actually. I've been in it.

3. Yes, and he has worked on legislation which deals with animal cruelty cases, which is certainly a legal issue.

4. Pedro will have to answer that particular question himself, but I can tell you he understands the business community's needs very well and works with all the Chambers in his district to put on business expos every year. I don't believe his predecessor in that office did that.

He's a great populist candidate with an extensive legal background and a record of accomplishments which have gotten nationwide attention. He is also one of the most fervent crusaders for consumers and victims' rights in the state. He's being interviewed by CNN about one of his bills in about 20 minutes, actually.

Go Pedro!

One thing you forgot to mention, Marie, that you work for Pedro Nava. Just thought it would be appropriate to mention that, in the interest of full disclosure.

In the interest of full disclosure, I don't currently work for Pedro Nava. I did do casework part-time in his office until the end of February.

I left the office to go work for somebody else who I believe will make a fantastic Assemblymember, Susan Jordan.

Oh, you mean his wife, huh? Enough said here.

Yep, left the best job I ever had to go help somebody I truly believe in. Casework involves nothing but helping people all day long. I loved it.

I'm an open book here. How about you Mike?

Nobody has explained why a termed out politician like Pedro Nava is qualified to be California Attorney General. Katie Teague says that Pedro comes off as "charming and personable" in his recent ad. We also have a testimonial from Marie Lakin (who, incidentally, has has worked for both Pedro Nava and his wife), saying the video shows that Pedro is "friendy and very engergetic... and he has a great sense of humor". Oh yeah, and he has an endorsement from the Humane Society.

Martin Breen is right in observing that the ad has no substance. I don't really care if Pedro is a charming guy, or if he cares about animals. What I really want to know is whether he is qualified to be AG, and whether, if elected, he will effectively and impartially perform the the important duties of AG, whose primary duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" (California Constitution, Article V, Section 13).

One of the more important duties of the AG is to provide the title and language for ballot measures submitted to voters, as covered under California Elections Code 9050-9054. Section 9051 states, "In providing the ballot title, the Attorney General shall give a true and impartial statement of the purpose of the measure in such language that the ballot title shall neither be an argument, nor be likely to create prejudice, for or against the proposed measure."

Why is this important? Because 90% of voters only read the ballot title and summary. Which means that the language used for the title and summary has the potential to significantly influence the outcome of a particular ballot measure. That's why it's important to elect an AG who is willing to provide voters with a fair, impartial description of a ballot measure.

Some of the various Democratic candidates for California Attorney General have been seeking the support of various public employee unions. Lobbying organizations have been conducting interviews of the candidates, and it was reported that Assemblymen Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), Alberto Torrico (D-Newark), and Pedro Nava (D–Santa Barbara) were asked two basic questions from the Police Officers Research Association of California:

1. Did they support the death penalty for cop killers?
2. Would each candidate, as AG, make sure that the official summary of a state pension report proposal be slanted to destroy its chances of passing?

According to reports, each candidate enthusiastically supported both.

I'd like to see Pedro Nava provide a statement that he will not be influenced by public employee unions in drafting titles and language for ballot initiatives. Specifically, I'd like him to state for the record that, if a pension reform initiative were to make it to the ballot, that he is committed to insuring that the title and language is truthful, fair, and impartial. If he can do that he has my vote. If he is unwilling, then he doesn't deserve to be AG.

It was reported today in the SacBee that Democrats in the state legislature, with the assistance of attorneys representing the California Schools Employee Association, conspired to alter the language of the upcoming Open Primary measure. The obvious goal was to change the title and summary language so that it was represented in a way that made it less likely that voters would vote in favor of the measure.

Keep in mind that the open primary measure was part of a deal struck between governor and the legislature as part of last year's budget. State Senator Abel Maldonado extracted the concession in exchange for voting in favor of a budget that included billions of dollars in tax increases. Now, democrats are trying to subvert the measure by altering the title and summary after the fact.

Again, this illustrates why it is important to have an AG who is committed to providing voters with honest, and impartial ballot titles and summaries. Is Pedro Nava willing to stand up for that principle?

Bubba Kidd (AKA Little Miss Sunshine)

Vote for Pedro? Not on your life. Not even if he was the Pedro in "Napolean Dynamite" would he get my vote for AG.

This is too important a position to be handed to the likes of Jerry Brown and Pedro Nava. I love how Marie Lakin and Katie Teague are always bagging on the Stricklands for shopping for public offices when, in fact, their heroes Pedro Nava and Susan Jordan are doing the very same thing -- i.e., Pedro handing off his job to the wife. Whadup with that?

I bag on the Stricklands for a total lack of integrity. Get your facts straight.

Bubba Kidd,

What was the title before it was switched?

And what do you call the office-swapping going on between Mr. and Mrs. Nava? The height of integrity, I suppose.

For what it's worth, I'll be looking at Kamala Harris and Steve Cooley as candidates. Harris is far ahead of all the others on making the internet safe for kids and dangerous for criminals. Cooley's the only GOP candidate who ISN'T trumpeting how far right he is and has a good record of prosecuting wrongdoers. All the rest, Dems & Repubs, are either too involved in insider, power politics or too obsessed with bolstering their far right credentials.

Hey, I haven't bagged on the Stricklands for awhile. Actually I haven't bagged on anybody for awhile. I'm just tired of negativity in general.

Look you guys all knew I worked for politicians, sometimes paid, sometimes unpaid. I also do plenty of community service, all unpaid.

The common thread in who I support is indeed integrity. Susan was asked to run for Assembly in 1997, when her son was young. She was a single, divorced mom then and passed until her son was much older. She and Pedro have only been married a little while. Susan has had a great career in women's health services, the business arm of a consulting firm and many, many years of non-profit environmental work taking on some of the biggest challenges and winning every time. She's written legislation and forged many connections.

I like the balance there. She's a perfect candidate for this district, which has a 20-point Dem advantage.

Pedro has been a deputy district attorney, a prosecutor and, as I said above, has been one of the leading victims' and consumer rights' legislators in the state. He is chair of the Assembly's Banking and Finance Committee. He IS friendly and energetic and is one of those people who just gets it done. The video reflects his personality and talks about his background. I like it.

Marie, if you don't mind me asking -- when you say that you did "casework" for Mr. Nava, what do you mean? Is this a paid job? Also, what do you do now to earn an income? In other words, are you a paid political operative?

Martin

ps: And you never answered my question: Does Mr. Nava see himself as a Cuomo or a Holder?

Casework didn't involve politics, Martin. Or even legislation. What I did was handle constituent issues. By the time folks call a legislative office for help, they are pretty desperate. From EDD claims gone afoul, to onerous business regulations, to Medi-Cal, Sec. of State issues, I did it all. It was really rewarding helping folks through the gauntlet that is sometimes State government -- and getting results.

In my other life I do public relations work which involves many different clients, some political, most not. I am a very active community volunteer and I donate my time freely to many people and causes.

On the PS: You'd have to ask Pedro that question. I would never speak for him.

So, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are doing the office swap thing, huh? And Pedro is trying to move up to statewide office as Attorney General.

What makes them any different from Mr. and Mrs. Strickland when they pull crap like this? No one has the guts to answer my question I see. Katie? Marie? Anyone?

I've submitted your name to the Pope as a candidate for sainthood, Marie. Let me know when he gets back to you.

Ahh yes, Saint Marie.....has kind of a nice ring to it.

She would hae had to perform a miracle like make Tony Strickland pick up a tab.

It's all about qualifications. Lois Capps is doing a fine job as the successor to her husband, Walter. I think Bonnie and Allen Lowenthal have also proved their individual worth (although they are now divorced). Fran Florez is Dean Florez' mom; she's running for Assembly. Then there's Hillary and Bill, Bob and Elizabeth Dole, etc.

Of course Tony and Audra and also Sharon and George Runner.

I think if the spouse is highly qualified in his/her own right, like Susan definitely is, I don't see an issue. Pedro and Susan haven't been married very long. In the end people vote for who they like, not who they are married to.

P.S. Sorry if my community service bugs you! It's what I like to do.

Marie, I for one applaud your efforts to assist in the community. I don't think it's necessary to judge the nature of someone's volunteerism, whatever it may be. I just wanted to know if you were being paid to come on this website and make positive statements (and negative statements on opponents) on Mr. Nava. I think you denied that although your response could have been more direct. But since you work in politics, your answer probably is considered direct.

Let me ask a different question: Do you think Brown has been an effective AG?

Martin

I think I answered your question. Honestly, I'm just sticking up for somebody who has been very good to me. You would do the same. And I will not be making negative statements here about anyone.

Martin, trust me when I say there are lots of campaign staffers on this site, just not using their own names or being honest about who they are or why they're here. I have nothing to hide.

I also qualified today to run for the 1st District Ventura County Democratic Central Committee. There are 10 of us running for 6 seats. Go figure.

Marie:
Good Luck in your putative campaign for the VCDCC 1st District seat.

God knows, that sclerotic body needs new blood, and a complete overhaul of its schizophrenic behaviors.

If elected, you will have your work cut-out for you:

An embarrassingly low Committee treasury balance, which is woefully inadequate to increase EITHER Democratic registration or victories in Ventura County.

Members having to sign McCarthy-like fiscal loyalty oaths, replete with non-public disclosure statements, regarding the contents of the monthly treasurers' reports as the price of a few precious moments of viewing time. As a member, forget about actually taking the Treasurer’s report home with you.

And bizarre, puerile and unacceptably angry and profane outbursts by the Committee's Secretary against the members present during a meeting held a few months back that would have made even Howard Stern blush!

Not to mention Michael Moore's recent predictive warning that unless Mr. Obama fires Rahm Emmanuel as Chief of Staff, and hires him for $1, the Democrats are in for a real "A&(*)Whoopin of Biblical Proportions" come this November Mid-Term Election! (See URL above).

How's a former Rockefeller-Republican turned Democrat like you gonna reform that mess, Marie?

NostraDemus

Well, maybe I can work on their PR a bit. :-)

Marie:
It's not re-packaging of the Committee's PR that needs your attention and work.

No amount of PR lipstick on the current political peccants' peccadilloes will make any substantive difference.

It's the lack of both content substance, and efficacy of the Committee's political actions, that is the fundamental governance problem.

The Committee's political purpose, focus and electoral work-plan needs immediate triage, as well as long-term preventative health-care, in the form of wholesale re-design, re-invention, and re-work!

No amount of marginal tinkering with the current form will substitute for fundamental reforms of the lacking substance.

Again, I wish you Good Luck..

NostraDemus

Marie would make a good addition to the Central Committee and I wish her luck. In fact, with such a large number of candidates running, there's a chance she could unseat a current member from the 1st District.

As evidenced by Nostra's post, CC is a mixed bag. There are some terrifically talented and dedicated people, and then there are the others...

If you're unhappy, ND, roll up your sleeves and help, buddy! Complaining on a blog only goes so far...

I wish Marie the very best in her run for Central Committee. She would make a great addition to the Committee.

As to NostraDemus--perhaps Mr. Nostrademus would like to step out of the comfort of a pseudonym and announce his identity so that we can all know who the mystery complainant is, and perhaps understand the source of the complaints. Most people I talk to are excited about the promise of the Committee and the direction it's headed, regardless even of their feelings toward current leadership (which was elected by a wide margin, for what it's worth).

Goodness knows there's work to be done, and as Marie says, we can all use all the help we can get to defeat the GOP here in Ventura County.