The only three announced candidates for the new Ventura County based district met for a debate. Steve Bennett, David Cruz Thayne, and David Pollock debated in front of the Ventura City Democratic Club with KADY TV filming it.

You can watch the whole debate by going to KADY TV and searching for it. Their video player doesn't allow embedding on other sites.

Debates like these aren't widely seen by voters and often not even by party activists. But after watching the video I think you will see why David Pollock would like more people to watch it. To do that I was impressed that his campaign sent out a Youtube video with highlights of his performance.

After watching the debate what moments or answers stand out for you?

As a service to local campaigns trying to connect with local voters I will post a Facebook like box on entries I write about a campaign if the campaign sends me the HTML for the box. My readers can click on that box to connect with the campaign on Facebook. Consider it a free advertisement.

The like box has a few options including a newsfeed. That allows you to have your newsfeed on each entry on your campaign that I write.

Which candidate for Congress has the quickest technology team? David Pollock, Steve Bennett, or David Cruz Thayne? Send me the HTML.

UPDATE: David Cruz Thayne is the first Congressional candidate to submit his HTML.

David Cruz Thayne had the HTML submitted. He currently has 116 likes on his page and has a goal of 2,000. If you would like to follow his campaign click like below.

How great would it be if #ows supporters and Tea Parties had a rap competition?

( If Justin uploads a better version I will post it).

Justin Davis is a young activist who is considering running for Congress in the new congressional district that includes Simi Valley and Santa Clarita. He wrote some lines about why he supports the #Occupy movement and sent them to me. I then uploaded the music to Youtube. The sound quality isn't great but you can read the lyrics below. Justin, will you be at the #Occupy Simi Valley General Assembly this Sunday? I haven't met Justin Davis before but you can tell he is passionate. I think it is obvious that he and Armed Services Chair Buck McKeon do not have much in common.

#Occupy Ventura by Justin Davis I take out my notepad just to jot down some thoughts About all the up and downs that I got Never changing the rage is a chasin Even though it's murderous like Jason Scars can be deep even tho they're abrasions They're still constantly hatin My music is art, and this beat is my painting And while I think about and ponder my future I'm surrounded by drones that are plugged into computers They're losers, connected to the 1% the people can't dissent and u call this common sense? I'm kidnapped, taken all the way back to the old school A couple set backs cripple mcs like an old fool I think, and it hurts cuz my mind is reeling What I'm dealing is feeling that I'm not a human being I'm a robot fully functional in dysfunctional systems The louder I scream, nobody listens! So what's a man to do in this particular predicament? Please tell me so I can deflect all this shot I get Oppression washes over me so maybe I'm forever wet And f*ck the opinions of some people that I've never met! Yet, take it for what it's worth I'm a trailblazer son still walkin in scorched earth. Yeah, take it for what it's worth I'm a trailblazer son and you know the truth hurts!

Tennis Professional David Cruz Thayne issued a press release in response to Steve Bennett announcing he is running for the new Ventura County based congressional seat. Click on continue to read the entire press release. His press release hints at the direct criticisms I expect David Cruz Thayne will be using against Steve Bennett. I was surprised by the tone this early in a campaign.

In a related note here is some free advice to new candidates. Don't include the year you are running in your URL. Consider not including the position either. If you run for a different position or if you run again you will need a new website URL, which will push other search results before your official website. My blog shouldn't be the top result for Congressional candidates.

Also please don't substitute the numeric 4 in place of for, especially if education is a central part of your platform. When you mention your website you have to explain it is the number 4.

You can comment on my blog without registering. But if you are tired of the negativity of anonymous comments you can join the conversation on the Facebook page for my blog.

Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett is the most recent Democrat to announce they are running for the new Ventura County based seat in the House of Representatives.

So far no Republicans have announced they are running. Rep. Elton Gallegly hasn't announced if he is retiring or if he runs what district he will run in. Many people assumed he will run in the Ventura County based district. But with his recent letter to the editor in a Santa Clarita newspaper maybe he is planning to run against Republican Buck McKeon. I don't think he will run at all. But I am just guessing.

Steve Bennett is expected to be a competitive candidate. He has years of experience in elected office and running for office. He has connections with environmental activists because of his leadership with SOAR. Local Democrats haven't had a candidate with substantial elected office experience running for Congress, now they have multiple strong candidates.

This is a great chance for Democrats to win another seat in the House of Representatives and their chances just increased by getting another strong candidate.

Click on continue reading for Steve Bennett's campaign announcement.

( David Pollock was an actor and a school board member, and now is on the Moorpark City Council.)

David Pollock, Steve Bennett, and David Cruz Thayne, are currently the only three declared candidates for the Congressional district that includes most of Ventura County except for most of Simi Valley. I will be covering these campaigns in detail.

So far Republicans don't have any declared candidates.

On David Pollock's website he lists an impressive group of people that have endorsed him including support from Republican elected officials. Show off your local political knowledge by posting which of the people that endorsed him are Republicans.

Here is his Thanksgiving message:

This year we have many things to be thankful for. Ventura County is home to some of the most beautiful natural scenery, most comfortable climate and most fertile farmland in the nation. Just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of LA, we enjoy our quiet neighborhoods and old fashioned sense of community. And we have another thing to be thankful for: for the first time in a generation, we have a real choice in who will represent us in Congress.
Our current Congress has its priorities backwards. They are defending the elite upper class at the expense of the middle class. We have a tax system that enables CEOs to pay lower tax rates than their secretaries. We have a healthcare system that bankrupts people who get sick. This is plain nuts!
I believe that the government should look out for small businesses and entrepreneurs, not just large corporations. We need Congress to understand that the measure of a nation is how we treat our most vulnerable citizens, not how we coddle our millionaires.
I got into public service because I wanted my kids to have better schools. Now I'm running for Congress to make sure that the next generation of kids is not the first in American history to have a lower standard of living than their parents.
While we have a lot to be thankful for, we also have a lot of work to do. Please check out my website at www.pollockforcongress.com and consider getting involved.

Warm Regards,

David Pollock

If you would like to submit a guest blog entry send me an email. Publishing your entry doesn't show I agree or disagree with you. I am troubled by the idea of people selling investments and then betting against those investments. Maybe it makes sense in a textbook but it seems wrong.

Here is the comic and guest blog entry explaining his thoughts:

By "David Brosterhouse"

In the years leading up to the 2008 economic collapse, many neo-cons unsuccessfully urged public pension plans to enter the then-buzzing casino of individual market-based retirement plans. When the dust settled after the crash and states had to reconcile their budget gaps, Wall Street interests sitting on record profits and historically low tax rates pointed the finger at retirees. To be sure, some pension plans had been overextended and some offered generous benefits... But in most cases, blaming public employees for these shortfalls was a little like running out of gasoline on the highway and blaming your mechanic.

Barack Obama signed into law the first part of his jobs bill. This law offers tax credits to employers to hire unemployed veterans.

We honor veterans with words and more importantly our actions. I am glad both parties agreed to this bill. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have made supporting military families their priority.

Next up: Extending payroll tax cuts for employers and employees. That might be tougher as Republicans have found a tax cut they oppose.

A group of young people is putting together a #Occupy Simi Valley rally next weekend. Here is a screen shot from their page:

The corner of Sycamore and Cochran is a popular spot for rallies. If you go post pictures to my Facebook page for my blog. Facebook.com/briandennerthere

I went through their page and I don't recognize any of the organizers. This appears to be a real grassroots movement.

There is another rally against privatizing the Simi Valley Library this Monday night from 5:45PM to 8PM. There is widespread opposition to privatizing the library but so far the city government has reacted by claiming they know it is the best course of action.

Opponents come from across the ideological divide. At the last meeting a city appointed planning commissioner claimed the labor union that represents the library workers is a communist organization. I don't see evidence of communist infiltration in our library. Keeping the library managed locally isn't a partisan battle.

If this is a good idea I don't know why the city didn't do this long ago. I am not hearing from the city that they will save money and therefore extend service hours or create more programs.

Here is a screenshot from the page rallying people to attend the meeting:

Elton Gallegly hasn't declared if he is running again and if he does run which district he will run in. The new Ventura County based district is close to tied for party registration. The district that includes Simi Valley runs into Santa Clarita, where incumbent Republican Buck McKeon lives.

I doubt he runs in a district he doesn't live in. It is legal for him to do so but after his campaign being critical of multiple opponents in the past for doing the same I doubt he will do it. I remember the campaign between him and his 1992 opponent Anita Perez-Ferguson. I am sure some of his supporters do too. I knew I saved those files for a reason.

So will he run against House Armed Services Chair Buck McKeon? Being House Armed Services Chair gives McKeon access to large donations from the defense industry.

Rep. Elton Gallegly is playing his classic game of not declaring his intentions early. His own party has openly complained that delaying is bad for his party. Some think he might challenge fellow Republican Rep. Buck McKeon, but I doubt it.

Ventura County Star Reporter Timm Herdt wrote a blog entry that Rep. Buck McKeon couldn't get an answer out of him.

Maybe frustrating party leaders and activists is why the House Republicans chose to pass him over to be a Committee Chair.

I think the most likely scenario is he is waiting with the goal of chasing strong challengers away. But that plan has already failed as multiple Democrats with elected officie experience have already declared or are preparing to declare soon. Elton Gallegly has never had a general election opponent with elected office experience that I recall. Can you think of one?

His games might benefit him personally. But purposefully playing these games makes it harder for candidates from both parties to prepare to run. I understand trying to get an advantage over his opponents but if he chooses to retire or run in another district his party is going to be at a disadvantage when their candidates don't have as much time to run.

I don't know if I would want McKeon or Gallegly to win. I don't know Gallegly's thinking on many issues because he is the only Member of Congress, of either party, to refuse to hold town hall forums.

Tony Strickland should just declare he is running and push Elton Gallegly to make a choice. That would be entertaining.

Note: If you are tired of the dumb anonymous comments on my blog join the conversation on the Facebook page for my blog. The debates tend to be more civil.

Facebook.com/briandennerthere

The declared Democratic Party candidates running for the new Ventura County based congressional seat are invited to share their views at the Ventura City Democratic Club. The two declared candidates are David Cruz Thayne and David Pollock. Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett is also considering running.

Democratic 26th Congressional District Candidates' Town Hall November 17, 2011, 7 p.m., E.P. Foster Library, Ventura

Click on continue reading for more details.

What questions would you like to see them answer? I want to know their opinions on foreign policy including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.

I also want to know their thoughts on the documentary Waiting for Superman.

There is a rally Monday night against the attempt by the city to drop out of the county library system in favor of a private corporation managing the library. You can go to the event page on Facebook to find out more.

I am against hiring an outside corporation to manage the library until we can get some basic questions answered. But that isn't going to happen because the vote is expected Monday night.

if there isn't time to answer basic questions then the city council shouldn't be voting on it.

Here are some of my questions that won't have a full debate before they vote on Monday night:

1. Is there a guarantee hours won't be cut?
2. What do the volunteers that run the Friends of the Library used book section think of this plan?
3. Will workers get a pay cut to pay for the management company?
4. What recourse do we have if there isn't cost savings or if there are service cutbacks?
5. Will it be easier or harder for nonprofit groups to rent space in the library for their programs?
6. Will local librarians or the corporation that manages the library choose which books are not allowed on the shelves?
7. If this is such a good idea why didn't the city do it earlier in the year with more time to discuss it?
8. Can we finally get some coffee in the library? Seriously, it would be a great fundraiser.
9. What has been the experience of other communities that have tried this plan?
10. Are there multiple companies that could manage the library? Was it set out to be bid on competitively?
11. Simi Valley has a Shop Simi Valley First Campaign. What outreach did the city do to determine if a local company could run the library before they chose a company from another state?

It actually might be a good idea to change the way the library is managed. But I am not convinced that rushing it through before there is a full debate is in our best interest.

Sidenote: I also hear an #Occupy Simi Valley group is starting to form.