( Jason Hodge speaking out on education funding.)

Jason Hodge is well-known to many of my readers. He has been a community activist and a progressive leader for many causes. Go through my archives for guest blog entries from him and an interview with him. Now he is preparing to run for the State Legislature. The district lines aren't finalized but preparations for many candidates have begun. Jason Hodge starts off with many advantages. He is popular with grassroots activists, he has connections at the state level, and as a firefighter he has credibility on safety issues.

I will be glad to be among his many supporters. Here is his fundraising email to get his campaign started:

Dear Friends,

We are less than 12 months away from choosing who will be our legislators in the new districts and we must act now. California is in a fiscal and moral crisis. We are at a true crossroads where we can choose to continue down a failed path of gridlock and inflexible ideology or we can work together to achieve the dreams of a golden future for all Californians.

I believe I can be the kind of balanced legislator who puts people before politics. My life is committed to helping people through volunteerism and public service and I've even made a career out of it as a fireman. But now I find that bandages and fire hoses are not enough to save the lives that are at risk. Our elderly are in danger of losing crucial services. Our children are in danger of having no future at all. Because of this I am now looking to protect people not from the Firehouse, but from the Statehouse.

To help our community have the representation we need in Sacramento, I opened an account at the beginning of June to show my desire to serve. To demonstrate the breadth of my support, I am launching my 72 donors in 72 hours effort. By June 30th, I'm asking friends and colleagues to show your support with a modest donation of $250, $50, $20, or whatever you can afford. Please click on the link today and send a message that Ventura County is ready for leadership dedicated to making the California dream a reality.

Thank you for your friendship and support.

Jason Hodge

Click here to donate or go to the site below.
https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/27291

The proposals for new legislative districts are posted. Rep. Elton Gallegly of Simi Valley has some tough options.

Option #1

Retire

I predict he is going to retire.

He is the only legislator in the region, of either party, that doesn't hold townhall forums. His website is dated and he was passed over to be the chair of many committees by people with less seniority. He has been working on legislation and oversight quietly but his actions don't seem to be what someone preparing for a tough campaign often does.

Option #2

Run in the new Ventura County Congressional district that doesn't include Simi Valley or Moorpark. The new district is balanced between Democrats and Republicans. He wouldn't legally have to move but most legislators do live in the district they represent. Would the former mayor of Simi Valley move to a new town to stay on office?

Option #3

Run against Republican Rep. Buck McKeon in a district that is mostly made up of voters currently represented by McKeon.

Gallegly would have too many disadvantages running against the current chair of the House Armed Services Committee. Gallegly would have lower name ID, he isn't the chair of a committee, and his campaign organization isn't using social media much. Compare the Youtube channel's for the two of them:

Rep. Buck McKeon:

New Media Competition

Friends,

In an effort to push for greater transparency in Congress, my colleagues and I are going head-to-head in a New Media Competition.

By allowing cameras to always have an inside look into my work, I have made it to the Top 16. I am now fighting to be in the Top 8 and I cannot do it without your support.

Will you help me today by visiting my YouTube page and watching a few videos?

I am constantly striving to find new and improved ways to connect with all of my constituents. With the strong emergence of YouTube and other New Media outlets, I am able to give you a more personal look into my work days in the 25th District of California and in Washington, D.C.

Then there is this page for Rep. Gallegly:

Rep. McKeon, unlike Rep. Gallegly, has a great website and uses social media to connect with constituents. He also holds free and open townhall forums.

Redistricting might do to Rep. Elton Gallegly what many Democratic campaigns haven't been able to accomplish.

( Map from Wikipedia)

Reacting to events in San Francisco where a group is attempting to legally stop male circumcision Rep. Brad Sherman is trying to address the issue using legislation at the federal level by citing the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Here is his press release:

Sherman to Introduce Bill to Protect Male Circumcision

Washington, DC - Congressman Brad Sherman announced today that he will be introducing the Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act of 2011, a bill to prevent San Francisco and other municipalities from banning the circumcision of males under the age of 18.

Sherman's new bill is in reaction to a measure that has qualified for the November 2011 ballot in San Francisco that would make the performance of circumcisions on males under 18 a misdemeanor--with a possible $1,000 fine and one-year prison term.

Click on continue reading for the rest of the press release.

I expect his legislation to gain enough support to pass. San Francisco activists would better serve their communities by trying to work on issues like environmental sustainability, poverty, and education. Their medical claims will not legally overcome cultural and religious traditions.

( Jackson Browne will be performing at the event)

The new district lines are not set but that isn't stopping Rep. Lois Capps from preparing to run for re-election. Here is an announcement of an upcoming fundraiser:

Keeping Our Future Bright: A Campaign Event to Support the Re-Election of Congresswoman Lois Capps

With Special Guest: Senator Dianne Feinstein
And a Performance by Jackson Browne

Sunday, June 26, 2011, 5-7 p.m.
At the home of Betty J. Stephens
Santa Barbara

Chair: $5,000
Sponsor: $2,500
Host: $1,000
Guest: $250 per person

Make checks payable to:
Friends of Lois Capps
P.O. Box 23940, Santa Barbara, CA 93121
Or RSVP online at https://secure.actblue.com/page/june_26

Chairs and Sponsors are invited to a VIP reception with special guests.
Valet parking available. Flat shoes and hats recommended.

For more information email jennifer@cappsforcongress.com

Send in fundraiser information for other candidates for Congress to have them posted. Is Rep. Gallegly holding any upcoming local fundraisers?

This is part of my ongoing series where I ask questions of elected officials, staff members, and activists. I want answers that will share with my readers more than what we generally read in news articles on their ideas towards government and their official duties.

This time I have questions for Moorpark School Board Member Ute Van Dam. She was elected to the School Board in 2008 and works as a school psychologist for LAUSD.

School Board Member Ute Van Dam:

After you were elected what type of training program and orientation did the school district offer? What have you been most surprised by as a school board member?

You can post here on my blog or send me your answer.

Thanks,

Brian Dennert

This is the third entry in my new feature Brian Dennert Has Questions. I am asking questions of elected officials, staff members, and activists. Sometimes the questions will seem odd but I am trying to ask questions that they don't normally get asked that will reveal more about their approach to government.

This time I have questions for Ventura City Manager Rick Cole. The Ventura City Manager has a great blog and shares his thoughts on Facebook also. Regardless if you are a supporter of Rick Cole we should agree he is accessible.

City Manager Rick Cole:

Where have you traveled domestically and internationally that has influenced your views on local government, planning, and transportation. Can you share with us a few examples. Feel free to send me a picture to post.

You can post your answer here or send it to me to post.

Thanks,

Brian Dennert

Until Rick Cole answers all other comments will be deleted to keep this entry on topic.

I have a new feature on my blog where I ask elected officials, staff members, and activists questions. Some of the questions will be quirky but they are designed for my readers to better know our local politicians.

Bob Huber is the Mayor of Simi Valley. I have talked to him a few times during the campaign on mostly policy issues, like supporting the Arroyo Greenway Plan, but I don't know much about him personally.

Mayor Bob Huber:

What motivated you to become a lawyer? What types of law have you practiced over your career? Who is your favorite fictional lawyer.

You can post your answer on this entry or email it to me.

Here are Mayor Bob Huber's answers:

Hi Brian,

Happy Father's Day! I hope you have a great day with your family!

Here's the answer to your questions:

#1. After 13 years as a Mortician I decided to help others in need from another direction. What drew me to the law was the opportunity to solve different types of problems for people everyday.

#2. Over the years I have practiced criminal law (both as a Deputy District Attorney and a criminal defense attorney); Family Law; Business Law; Homeowner's Association Law; Personal Injury Law; and General Civil Litigation. My current specialties are Personal Injury and Civil Litigation. I have been a Ventura County Court Judge Pro Tem since 1981 and served as a Mental Health Judge from 1988 to 1998.

#3. My favorite fictional lawyer is Atticus Finch from the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird".

Kind Regards,
Bob

Thanks for participating in this new series of blog posts where I ask brief questions.

(Actual sign posted at the Nixon Library)

I am posting a series of blog entries on the Richard Nixon Library.

I am not sure why people think of Genghis Khan as a right-winger. He ordered the integration of his military and didn't support a state religion. That makes him much more progressive than many conquerors before or after him.

Back on the topic of Richard Nixon I want memories from my readers. What did you think of him at the time?

If I get three decent responses I will post a picture of a modern enemies list of the Nixon Library I discovered on a bulletin board in a staff area while I was there.

I purposefully don't blog on a few specific political issues. Some because there are much better sources for news on the subject and others because they bring out the worst in the people posting comments. I also try to avoid gloating over the personal failures of politicians.

As an example the reckless actions of Democrat Anthony Weiner of New York isn't something I would normally post on. He joins a long bipartisan list of politicians with major personal failures. I feel for his family. I am not going to defend his actions nor spend much time joining the people who see an easy target.

I'm also not interested in debating what happened because it doesn't have direct policy consequences.

I like the traffic and some of the comments that my blog gets. But I am not interested in reading Anthony Weiner jokes. Nor am I interested in wasting my time deleting comments from readers gay baiting each other.

A frequent poster on my blog referenced my deletion of anti-gay jokes and Anthony Weiner lines by writing I was acting like the dictator of Libya. The reader also dismissed a serious discussion over the California State Budget by writing the media was focused on Anthony Weiner today.

That's true that cable news dedicated itself to a trivial story of a personal failure instead of the military conflicts in Libya, Afghanistan, or Iraq. That is what is wrong with our news media!

Most of my readers want something of more substance or a local connection.

Post all the criticisms you feel like of policies I support without any worry that I will delete your comments. Tell me why I am wrong or what else I should have included.

I locked this entry from comments.

Thanks for reading my blog.

( The video is unrelated to my question.)

UPDATE: Click on continue reading to see County Supervisor Kathy Long's response. Thank you Kathy Long!

Welcome to a new feature on my blog where I post questions for political figures in Ventura County and then post their responses. If you have suggested questions email them to me. Until Kathy Long answers all other comments will be deleted to stop this entry from going off topic.

Here is my 1st question:

Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long,

How did you first get involved in California politics? Who did you work for and how did you get the job?

You can post your response here or send it to me.

Thanks,

Brian Dennert

With recent polls showing dramatic shifts in the support for the freedom to marry I am glad a local group is organizing to support equal treatment under the law.

Here is their announcement:

Announcement of Stonewall Democrats Meeting
Meet Candidates - Reorganize - Revitalize

Monday June 13, 2011 At 7 p.m.

Please join us for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Ventura County's meeting on Monday June 13, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Democratic Headquarters at 1760 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo (Google address for map) to meet candidates for the Board of Directors and to be a part of the growing and politically influential LBGT arm of the California Democratic Party. What we accomplish here in our own backyard in Ventura County will help effectuate change not only here, but also statewide and across the United States. We all know that California is the bellwether state for social justice and progressive political movements.

The mission of the Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County is to elect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and Pro-Equality candidates and to advocate for legislative proposals in Ventura County, California, and the United States. The club welcomes the participation of LGBT people, their friends, and their supporters. Their work includes educating and supporting LBGT people within our communities, helping build leadership that will fight bigotry and intolerance against immigrants, supporting the right to marry for all, and repealing Proposition 8 here in California and the Defense of Marriage Act at the federal level.

Join Stonewall and support social justice, make new friends, learn to be an activist, become a part of our social history right here in Ventura County!

Brian Dennert Here on Facebook

Here is their announcement:

Pizza and a Movie Night - Third Friday Each Month With the Democratic Campaign Council of Ventura County

This Month's Movie is "Gasland"

Friday, June 17, 2011, 7 p.m.

The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudi Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations in a new film called "Gasland."

Click on continue reading for details.

For a counter point of view watch this youtube video:

What do you think? Is fracking that dangerous or are the negatives exaggerated?

There was a movie on their list of documentaries I will not post a blog entry on. Feel free to try to guess which movie and the reason in the comments.

A group of Ventura County Democrats will be hosting a campaign training event on how to use online tools including social media. The event has a low cost suggested donation of $10. Brian Leshon and David Atkins are two party activists that are helping to put it together.

Click on continue reading for details.

Comments Policy Update: The comments on this blog have become very negative lately. I am not interested in comments mentioning the personal failings of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Anthony Weiner. You have plenty of other blogs to scream at each other on.

( Picture from a different event but it seemed fitting)

Ventura County Star Reporter Timm Herdt posted a blog entry on a recent roast of State Assembly Speaker John Perez that Former State Assembly Member Audra Strickland participated in.

Here was a few lines from her routine worth sharing:

"Did you know that John Pérez actually tried out for The Biggest Loser TV show? Not surprisingly it didn't go well. He kept letting the team with the purple shirts win," Strickland on Pérez, referring to the purple-shirted SEIU protestors who frequent the Capitol.

and

"Seriously John, if you vote for that tax on sugary goods, it would be just like Charlie Sheen voting on a tax on porn and meth," Strickland on Pérez.

and

"I was going through the Capitol this morning and chatting with a visitor and he said, 'You know, I always feel like we're getting screwed by legislators who don't know what they're doing.' And I was like, 'Tell me about it, it happens to me every night,'" Strickland, who is married to GOP Sen. Tony Strickland.

I like when politicians can laugh at themselves. Audra Strickland earned some respect from me for participating in this event. Now go and pass a budget!

To read more of the jokes go the Sac Bee's website.