Dr. Lee Rogers (D-Simi Valley) is continuing to demand that Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) release more information about his special deal from CountryWide Home Loans. He is also arguing that Rep. McKeon should donate the amount he benefited from CountryWide to the US Treasury.

Click on continue reading for the latest email from Dr. Lee Rogers.

The lobbyist from CountryWide claims he gave politicians special deals to influence them. The politicians that took the special deals claim they didn't know they were receiving special treatment.

What type of lobbyist would try to bribe a politician but not let them know?

The Simi Valley Unified School District sent out a press release with some details of their actions with regards to the teacher that was arrested by police for robbing a 7-11. Click on continue reading for the press release.

I was sent this press release that was also sent to The Star and The Acorn. I am not sure why they didn't publish it.

The Simi Valley School District can do a much better job at communication. When they fail to communicate rumors spread. Institutions haven't been known to hide good news from the public.

Simi Valley has recently hired two new top level administrators. They deserve a chance to show how they will improve the school district and make needed changes.

To improve our community improve our schools. I will be requesting interviews with all candidates running for school board.

(Note: I am a teacher in Simi Valley.)

( Eric Halub ran for office in Simi Valley and attracted attention for his intensity of his views. Please watch the video. Rumors are he might run again.)

Many local elected positions will be on the November ballot. If you are thinking of running here is a partial list of available positions. Also, the County Elections office has many resources.

I interview many candidates for local office. If you are interested send me a message. I use the comments section of my blog. I am mostly interested in candidates for school boards across Ventura County.

( The 2008 campaign had massive energy behind it. Building on that will be critical.)

Local supporters of Barack Obama are continuing their phonebanking to support him. Click on continue reading for details. You can also work from home or organize your event.

I think with recent moves to rally his base Barack Obama will be able to mobilize many of his supporters again to make phone calls. I made calls before and it is the most sophisticated system I have seen in politics.

This is a brilliant speech. Watch it and get to work.

The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley is holding an activist training at their August meeting.

I like the idea of club meetings that include candidates and training. I don't go to many political club meetings where the only topic is a political discussion among club members. We can do that online using blogs and Facebook.

Click on continue reading for details.

Ventura County Office of Education candidate Ramon Flores will be answering questions Wednesday night from 7:30PM to 9:30PM on my blog. You don't need to register to ask questions.

Update: The virtual town hall is now over. If you would like to be interviewed send me a message.

Update: Ramon Flores is now taking questions.

Update: Josh is now taking questions. Click on continue reading to post a question.

Wednesday night there will be a virtual town hall forum with Simi Valley School Board candidate Josh Galanti.

Josh graduated in June and will be attending UCLA. He has many ideas on how to improve local schools. I will be asking him questions to better understand his motivations and qualifications.

You don't need to register but keep it classy. Josh will be answering questions from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

Wednesday night on my blog I will be interviewing a candidate that has not declared yet.

Any guesses?

Democrats have made a new Democratic Party Club in Moorpark. Click on continue reading.

Moorpark Democrats: What are you going to do at your next meeting? If you send in pictures I will post them.

Update: The interview is now over. Thanks Denis O'Leary for taking so many questions! I appreciate your time.

Tonight I am interviewing Oxnard Elementary School Board candidate Denis O'Leary. You can also post questions for Denis O'Leary to answer. You don't need to register to comment but keep it classy.

The interview starts at 7PM and ends at 8:45 PM.

If you are running for office and would like to be interviewed send me a message.

Are you thinking about running for local office? My friend Denis O'Leary has a post that lists many of the opportunities for the November election.

If you are running for local office it is difficult to get press coverage. Send me a message if you would like to be interviewed. I interview candidates using the comments section of my blog.

This Thursday I will be interviewing Denis O'Leary. He is running for re-election to the Oxnard Elementary School District. He will be answering questions from myself and my readers.

I have a question for Moorpark School Board Member Nathan Sweet.

What's the most surprising thing you have learned since you started serving on the Moorpark School Board? Who has helped you the most learn how to be an effective school board member?

The Simi Valley/Moorpark Democratic Club will discuss the health care mandate upheld by the Supreme Court, 7pm, Wednesday, July l8 at the Simi Valley Library community room,
2969 Tapo Canyon Rd.

For more information go their website.

( Dr. Lee Rogers being interviewed by Michael Shure.)

UPDATE:

We are doing a virtual town hall with Dr. Lee Rogers (D-Simi Valley) tonight. You can post questions for him by clicking on continue reading. You don't have to register to comment.

Dr. Lee Rogers is running against Buck McKeon for the district that includes Simi Valley and Santa Clarita.

This summer I will be interviewing many candidates for local office. Send me an email if you are interested in being interviewed.

Connect w/ Dr. Lee Rogers on Facebook.

Steve Bennett is running for re-election. He has long been an advocate for environmental causes and campaign finance reform. He recently sent out a campaign fundraising email asking for support to keep progressives in control of the Board of Supervisors this November.

The email stated:

The balance of power on the Board of Supervisors is at stake in this election. Powerful forces are anxious to take this seat out of progressive hands. They are lining up behind my opponent. You can help ensure that our sound policies to protect our quality of life continue for four more years.

Steve Bennett is heavily favored to win re-election to the Board of Supervisors. I don't expect this to be among the most exciting race for a local office. What races do you think will create excitement?

Question for Steve Bennett:

What has been the impact of the campaign finance reforms you have supported?

Send me a message with your reply and I'll post it on the front page.

The House Oversight Committee Chaired by Republican Darrell Issa issued a report on the Countrywide Home Loan Scandal that mentions Rep. Elton Gallegly and Rep. Buck McKeon. You can go to the website and read the report for yourself.

The charges are very serious. Basically the lobbyist for Countrywide Home Loans gave special deals to Members of Congress to influence them. The report shows that Members of Congress that complained to the Countrywide lobbyist were given preferential treatment including loan discounts. The lobbyist also helped Staff Members receive preferential treatment in an attempt to influence them.

The Members in the report are from both parties. I include by name Rep. Elton Gallegly and Rep. Buck McKeon because they represent this area. Both of them deny any knowledge of favorable treatment. I have not seen an explanation of what triggered both of them to be placed in the program.

This scandal has the attention of the national media.

What are are reactions? You don't need to register to comment but keep it classy.

This is what Democratic candidate Dr. Lee Rogers posted on Facebook.

Julia Brownley's campaign got help from James Carville to raise money. Click on continue reading for the email.

What do you think the email communicates about her strategy?

It appears they plan to convince voters Tony Strickland is a Tea Party supporter and is too extreme for this district. I would like to see a nonpartisan analysis of Tony Strickland's voting record on a wide variety of issues. What sites would you recommend?

There are three seats on the School Board for Simi Valley Unified School District up for election. All three of them are held by incumbents but none of the incumbents have announced their plans. Josie Hirsch ran in the last election and is running again. She is the first candidate to declare she is running.

Recently I started to notice campaign ads appearing for her on Facebook. Here is one example:

I like the ad. It is simple and has a provocative question. I am interested in how effective these ads have been. I am not sure why the ads are show up for people that have already clicked like on her page as that seems like a waste. I click like on many local campaigns to follow them. She currently has 75 likes. Check back and see how the campaign grows.

Click here to read my interview with Josie Hirsch from her previous campaign.

I will be interviewing many candidates for local office including city councils and school boards. If you are interested in being interviewed send me an email.

If you see Facebook ads for other candidates in Ventura County send me a screenshot.

Jeff Gorell doesn't have a serious challenger this November. But he wants to fundraise. How to you rile up donors when you don't have a serious challenger? Bring up Barack Obama. What's funny is he is running for a state office.

Click on continue reading to see his latest fundraising email.

( I took this picture of Chris Lanier when he was working on a campaign in Simi Valley.)

Chris Lanier passed away.

Chris was a great political activist. His friends and family will miss him greatly. He made this world a better place.

You can click on continue reading to find out more.