Richard,

Now that you have become Chair what are your top three goals that you want to accomplish for this election cycle?

My top three priorities are:
1. Get Democrats Elected
2. Increase Diversity
3. Strengthen our Democratic Clubs

Richard,

What do you mean by increase diversity?

Richard,

When did you discover that the Democratic Party better represents your values?

I have heard you view yourself as a moderate Democrat. On what issues are you more in the middle than many people in your party?

The great thing about the Democratic Party is that we have a widely diversified group. Unfortunately, that is not always properly represented in many of our Ventura County Democratic Clubs. We have to become more diverse in our racial and ethnic outreach.

It also means that we have to be more accepting of all Democrats. We have to be open to the wide range of differences and opinions within the Democratic Party. We have to ensure the most liberal Democrat and the most conservative Democrat knows that they have a place within our Party.

Richard,

Now that there are only two Republicans running for Treasurer / Tax Collector are you open to endorsing either or do you stay neutral because of your position? You might not tell us but do you know which of the two candidates you will be voting for?

I’ve been a Democrat my whole life. I essentially was born a Democrat, raised in a middle-class working family and the son of a Union Construction Iron Worker. When I turned 18, I was proud to register as a Democrat because of the Pro-Worker, Pro-Civil Rights, ALL-Inclusive Values that I think the party stands for.
I used to think of myself as a moderate, because I have liberal beliefs about some things and more conservative opinions about others. I don’t really use that to describe myself anymore. When I was in Tennessee, they called me a liberal and when I moved to California, I was thought to be conservative. Now, I just don’t follow any label. Some call me a conservative, a moderate, a liberal and various other things. The bottom line is that I’m a Democrat, just like all the rest of the Democrats. The “Big Tent” is open and available for us all to work together for the common good of Ventura County.

For me personally, I’m not speaking for the Party or the Central Committee, I will not be endorsing either Republican running for Treasurer / Tax Collector. Although it is an important position for our county, I have more important races to work on to ensure our Democratic candidates get elected.

What's the next big fundraiser for the VCDCC? What's your plan for re-energizing fundraising?

At the County level what priorities do Democrats support that Republicans do not?

We just had a big fundraiser this past Saturday night at the new Ventura County Democratic Headquarters in Camarillo. It was truly a great event with a wide range of support from all over the county as well as many Democratic candidates running in November. We will also be at the Ventura County Fair the next two weeks registering voters. We are in the planning phase of our Kennedy Legacy Dinner that is always a big event.

Richard,

What are your initial thoughts on the court ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional? Do you see the progress being made for gay rights as a continuation of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and beyond?

Unfortunately, I can’t really tell you anything the Republicans support - - - other than continuously working on getting themselves elected.
For Democrats, job creation is a primary concern in Ventura County. Also, saving our open spaces and protecting our agricultural resources is vital. Ventura County is uniquely positioned to be a front runner in the area of “green jobs”.

Richard,

In Simi Valley there are only two candidates running for Mayor so far and both are Republicans. If the election was held today do you know who you would vote for?

I do think that gay rights and Civil Rights are essentially the same. It is about allowing equal rights to people regardless of their race, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
On the other hand, I don’t know that I would leap to the conclusion that it is just a continuation of the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950’s. That movement was predominately about race relations and we’ve made major improvements there, but still have work to do. For gay rights, we still have a ways to go. Unfortunately, it still shows the prejudices, biases and injustices that still occur in our society.

What do you think of the civil war between the Strickland VCRCC and Linda Parks?

The race for Mayor in Simi Valley is going to be interesting. I’m still hoping that a Democrat will jump into the race! If the number of signs across town is any indicator as to who might win, then it will be a landslide.

I think the wheels on the Strickland political machine are starting to come off. I don’t personally know Linda Parks, but she seems to represent her community well and is definitely well respected. It seems odd that the Republicans would target one of their own to unseat rather than selecting another office.

Richard,

Without identifying who can you think of anytime you didn't vote for the Democrat for office because they didn't deserve your support?

Richard,

Which Republican do you think has been least effective at representing this area, Tony Strickland or Elton Gallegly?

Richard,

I want to give you a chance to be bipartisan. Can you identify an elected Republican in Ventura County that you respect their character?

Wow, you are going to make me choose between Strickland and Gallegly? I could say SO many things here, but I know my sarcasm will not come through well in my writing.
I guess I would have to pick Strickland - - - - Gallegly has made a career out of doing nothing. Strickland, at least, has held a few public forums and sends out a newsletter every now and then. Mr. Gallegly is like the invisible man. You can’t find him anywhere. I haven’t seen any significant legislation that Gallegly’s passed in his 20+ years in office. Tony’s VCRCC keeps him in the news by chewing up fellow Republicans.

You want ME to be bipartisan? OK, hmmm
Actually, I do respect Simi Valley Council member Barbara Williamson. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t agree with everything she stands for, but at least she does stand for something. Too many people on the Simi Valley City Council stay on the fence and just let things happen. We need people to stand up against the Land Fill expansion, fight to clean up the Santa Susana laboratory site and acknowledge that it was a mistake to let the Happy Face Hill area become an eye sore.

As for my voting record - - - it’s been a very long time since I didn’t vote for a Democrat in a significant political office.

Richard,

Thanks for your time. Keep us updated on the progress you make as Chair of the VCDCC.

Is it possible for the local Democratic party to be successful if we can't get Ferial Masry elected. It's like a Formula race car against a go cart. Isn't that a pretty simple test?

Thanks Brian. I'll be in touch.

This was a solid interview Brian. Richard seems like an honest, straight shooting guy. I'm sorry I didn't get to know him better during the City Council race two years ago.

@Mike
Thanks for the compliment. Keep up the good work in reporting Simi Valley politics. I hope that we get a chance to work on some things together in the future.

@nobody
I wouldn't be so quick to write off Ferial Masry. She's ran good competitive campaigns in the past, has solid name recognition and is the mother of an American soldier. Winning this race is not about who can raise the most money. To address your analogy, it’s dependent on how you set up the race. Of course, the Formula car would win in an open circuit, but the go cart will win if the race is held in your garage. Hence, we have to change the parameters to win and I think we can.

Sounds like Richard is starting off his term by learning how to properly whistle past the graveyard.

I'm sure he's whistling past the grave the VCRCC dug for Audra in her last race.

Mr. Carter,

Thank you for your service. For to long criminals like Elton Gallegly and the Stricklands have held office living lavish lifestyles paid by the tax-payers while the middle class disappeared.

The truth will set us free of the VCRCC it's just a matter of enough people hearing it.

Maybe the toughest thing Mr. Carter has to do is keep one of his board members from popping off. The fellow knows everything and of course this means he knows nothing.
His way of judging whether a candidate would be a good elected official is how the candidate runs his/her campaign. He has put that in writing. Well that means just how much the candidate can spend. Not whether or not the candidate would be the better elected official.
There have been many superior candidates but did not have the backing of corrupt money.

Martin:

Actually, in my judgment, the toughest test that Mr. Carter faces is courageously speaking what should be self-evident political truths to the members of his Committee. And by so doing, forge a workable majority of Committee members who will give their political blood, sweat and tears to close the enthusiasm gap between Democratic and Republican voters which has been manifest and growing in all elections since Mr. Obama has taken office.

This is particularly true in the 11 Congressional Districts in which John McCain carried the District during the November 2008 General, but the Democratic Congressional candidate seized the seat from the Republicans. Nationally, in virtually all such “swing-districts,” at this point of the 2010 General Election cycle, the Republican challenger is significantly ahead of the Democratic incumbent.

And in some cases, like the Virginia 5th Congressional District, the seat originally occupied by Democratic Founding Father James Madison, the Republican challenger, Virginia State Senator Rob Hurt, is 23 points ahead of incumbent Democratic Congressman Tom Perriello.

As the Washington Post news article reports, two years ago, Congressman Perriello came from 35-points behind in his own poll to win that seat by 727 votes, the closest winning margin of the 2008 Congressional elections. [See URL above for the full story]

The 2010 VA 5 Congressional election battle encapsulates the essential challenge facing as many as 60 incumbent Democratic Congressman whose seats are in play during the upcoming November 2010 Mid-Term elections. Namely, how do they convince their constituents that the votes they have cast in Congress kept the Bush Recession of 2007, from becoming the Obama Depression of 2010, 2011, or 2012?

In short, how do Democratic Congressional policies move actual job statistics from the current 100,000 or so jobs lost each month, to a situation where 300,000+ jobs are created each month, for the next three years, which will be required in order to reach the Obama Administration’s 6.8% unemployment target at the end of 2013.

And as you contemplate these staggering numbers remember the economic jobs context and personal suffering behind these jobless numbers. Currently, 14.6 Million Americans are unemployed, with more than half being unemployed more than six months. Levels not seen since the Great Depression of 1932.

Or as Donald Burroughs, a decorated Desert Storm Veteran who is one of Congressman Perriello’s working-class constituents more eloquently states the electoral problem Democrats face come November, “Put a man in office," he said. "Over a year later, I'm worse off than when he took office.” Burroughs, 45, has been looking for work for 16 months now, since the brake-shoe plant where he worked closed and moved to China.

"They bail out these lending institutions. They bail out those auto manufacturers," he said. "Where's my bailout? Me and my children and my grandchildren are going to have to pay for these bailouts."

As the former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives powerfully said years ago, ". All politics is local." To that end, during the June 2010 Gubernatorial Primary election, actual Republican percentage turnout EXCEEDED Democratic turnout by over 10%, INSPITE of their being 13,000 more registered Democrats than Republican voters in Ventura County.

Traditionally, absentee voting turnout percentages by Republican voters exceed Democratic numbers, and this was the case during the June 2010 Primary election here in Ventura County. But for the first time in memory, Election Day Precinct turnout percentages amongst Republican Voters EXCEEDED Democratic figures.

The June 2010 Primary electoral past may not necessarily be the General electoral prologue. But as George Santayana reminds us all, “..Those who do not heed the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.”

If this later electoral performance metric is not reversed significantly during the November 2010 General Election, Democrats will suffer an electoral bloodbath here in Ventura County, as bad as they appear to be headed for nationally.

Personally, I am very pleased by Mr. Carter's victory. I admire and respect him greatly, and hope that he will succeed as VCDCC Chair. However, it is very important that he focus the attention of his VCDCC colleagues given the proximity of the electoral hangman's noose come this November. And further as he is doing so, he reminds them daily that in politics, the critical numerical function is addition, NOT subtraction and division.

If he is successful, then his leadership will have resulted in a long-overdue and historic redirection of the energy and efforts by the local VCDCC towards Democratic electoral victories, rather than dissipating their energies on petty, puerile, and personal squabbling and vendettas.

Quo Vadis VCDCC? Vittoria o sconfitta?

NostraDemus

When the Voters are angry, the voters look for a place to place the blame. Despite 30+ years of corporate/conservative policies that have inched us forward to today's economic and social mess, the GOP has been genius at making sure the blame for those policies lay at the feet of the Dems. Obama may be a lousy national leader but the fact remains that he's stepped into a screwed up landscape brought about by the GOP's courting of BigBiz and ideology-obsessed conservatives.

Until the Dems find a way to grab the dialogue and shift the blame to the GOP, they don't have much chance of saving the majorities they currently have in Congress..or of making many gains locally, in Ventura County.

Forecast: slight gains for GOP locally AND in Congress and more years of obstructionist politics on all fronts.

gs, if you consider congressional Republicans blocking of Obama's Socialistic solutions to America's problems obstructionist politics, then I say keep on obstructing...

Your "fiscally conservative" solution of hitting the next three generations of taxpayers to provide the largest welfare payment in history, to protect the hedge funds and investment portfolios of the wealthiest ISN'T socialism? Or do you conservative commies only believe in the redistribution of the rich man's debt?

The GOP may work for you. It doesn't work for the American people.

GS and GOP Works for Me:

At the risk of experiencing collateral cyber-damage by intruding in your cyber-fight..

Permit me to remind you both of the wisdom in the old Polish proverb that Lech Walesa used to quote during his negotiations with the Communist apparatchiks in the Polish People's Republic during the strike in the Gdansk Shipyard in 1980 and 81..

To wit, ".. In Capitalism, man exploits man.. In Communism, the reverse is true.."

Ponder carefully before you go too far down the path of hyper-partisan propaganda in support of your respective political positions..

NostraDemus

Your first three priorities should be encouraging democratic politicians to work on the creation of jobs. Get them to work on stopping foreclosures, and work on jobs again.

I'll tell you one thing, gs. It isn't the government's job to redistribute anything. Don't expect me to defend Bush's policies, because I can't and won't. But, I will criticize the current Administration's efforts to discourage hard work and self-reliance by injecting the government into every facet of our lives and over-correcting the abuses of corporate America so that our future generations are learning only one lesson - Big Brother will always take care of you, no matter what.

NostraDemus...the reality is no longer a partisan one. After 30 years of conservative fiscal & economic policies both the figures and the results have been proven, beyond a reasonable doubt.

GOP...For decades conservative economic policy has encouraged BigGovt to intrude into the daily life of BigBiz...when such intrusion has been to the benefit of BigBiz, at the expense of the American people. The results speak for themselves. To now say, after those policies have field miserably, that one doesn't support them (a very safe political stance at this late date)and also to say that BigGovt should now do nothing to help the victims of those failed policies is just as wrong, if not worse.

Think Carter will debate Osborn?

I hope so. Carter would get his clock cleaned.

Ron and Bring it On:

Chortle all you want...

But, as sure as the Mississippi river flows North to South, in a debate between Carter and Osborn, my guess is that you would both quickly learn the wisdom found in Scriptures. Namely, ".Haughty pride goeth before the fall.."

After all, Mssr. Carter was born and bred in Tennessee, the Volunteer State, and the home of Great, Populist, Fighting Democrats like Davy Crockett, Andy Jackson, and Sam Houston..

I'd be willin to make a serious wager regarding the results of a head-to-head match-up between Mssrs. Carter and Osborn.

There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that your Pachydermic Panjandrum would find out the hard way what its like to go head-to-head with a frisky, fightin, frontiersman, metaphorically speaking, of course.

Can't wait to see the political cyber-sparks fly and the Elephant hair singed on Brother Osborn's neck..

NostraDemus

Nostra,

You do a disservice to history by making any correlation between Crockett, Jackson and Houston and today's Democrats.
Although it's interesting that both Crockett and Houston left the Jacksonian Democrats to become a Whig and a Unionist respectively. Jackson, of course, stayed in the party named for himself.

I'm also wondering on what your experience with Mike Osborn is that you can make the claim you do.

Voter:

Au contrare!

I never compared (Davy) Crockett, (Andy) Jackson and (Sam) Houston (you really should use their first names as well - it's a sign of respect) to today's Democrats - you did..

What I said was all were born in the State of Tennessee, all were Democrats, and that I believe that Richard, like all three of them, share characteristics of being frisky, fightin, frontiersmen.

As to your query regarding any personal experience I have with Mr. Osborn that allows me to make my claim. Suffice it to say that it is based on personal observations and judgment.

Neither you nor I know for sure how well either Mr. Osborn or Mr. Carter would do in a head-to-head debate. But I would hope that we both could agree that it would be interesting to see it happen. I hope it does.

For you see, Voter, I am a firm believer that Democracy IS Dialogue.. Informed voters can't choose if there is no debate.

NostraDemus

Nos,

If "Democracy is Dialogue" how do you explain your support of
Congressman Elton Gallegly? Congressman Gallegly has always refused to have town hall meetings and refuses to show up to debates.

If there was a debate between Osborn and Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter would stick a rubber hose Osborn's nose on every issue that faces this great Nation.

Welcome Back Democrats

Nobody:

What gives you the idea that I support Congressman Gallegly's decision to refuse to hold Town-Hall meetings? I don't.

I think that every Congressman or Congresswoman should have Town-Hall meetings, at least quarterly.

As to the results of the debate between Richard Carter and Mike Osborn, the jury's out on that one until it happens. Which I hope it will, and soon.

As my above-mentioned posts clearly demonstrate, I admire, respect and like Richard Carter.

In my judgment, he is a God-fearing, open-minded, intelligent, proud member of the working-class wing of the Democratic Party, who understands that the only political metric that matters to families is a low unemployment rate, not political hype masquerading as hope.

He is also a proud son of the Great State of Tennessee, which makes him a frisky, fightin, frontiersman, and a fine Southern gentleman, as well.

I was very pleased with his election as Chair of the VCDCC, and I wish him well.

Having attended several meetings of the VCDCC during the past several years, Mssr. Carter's patience, wisdom and collaborative leadership style are sorely needed, and will be a welcome addition to Party unity.

However, I predict that Mr. Carter's talents will be severely tested by a number of members representing the Ancien Regime as he attempts to herd all those VCDCC Democratic cats to fight for working-class Democrats in Ventura County.

For the sake of working-class Democrats in Ventura County, I hope that Mr. Carter succeeds.

NostraDemus