Paul Strickland is running in a crowded primary to replace termed out legislator Cameron Smyth (R). The other candidates include Scott Wilk (R), Patricia McKeon(R), and Edward Headington (D).

Paul Strickland is a former staff Member for Cameron Smyth and is a board member of his local school district.

He has agreed for me to interview him using the comments section of my blog.

Go to his website for more information:

http://www.electpaulstrickland.com/news/

Click on continue reading for the interview.

( Video of Scott Wilk speaking to Ventura County Republicans. Ventura County Republicans support Scott Wilk.)

The Santa Clarita Republican Assembly, a conservative grassroots group, held a straw poll for the new 38th Assembly District.

Republican Scott Wilk easily won the poll with the most votes. But what surprised me is that Democrat Edward Headington won 2nd place!

Edward Headington = 57 votes
Patricia McKeon = 5 votes
Paul Strickland = 21 votes
Scott Wilk = 266 votes

Seems Patricia Scott is highly unpopular with grassroots activists. I wonder if the money Buck McKeon raises for her will overcome the antipathy from her own party.

Congratulations Edward McKeon and Scott Wilk.

The Los Angeles Times has released an internal document of the items being negotiated between Republicans and Democrats in Sacramento.

Here is the section on education:

Which Republicans locally are in negotiations?

State Assembly Member Jeff Gorell has been deployed to war and State Senator Tony Strickland has clearly stated he isn't interested in any negotiations that put the tax extensions on the ballot. I received a robocall asking me to contact State Assembly Member Cameron Smyth recently.

This is an impressive list of reforms. I don't accept the argument that some Republicans, like George Runner, are promoting that their party shouldn't be open to negotiations. The reform to teacher tenure alone would be huge.

I'm not the most partisan blogger. I want Republicans to negotiate for some of the items on the list including limiting pension spiking and reforming education. What good ideas did you find in the document?

On Thursday nights I interview candidates, activists, and other interesting political figures.

This Thursday Night I am interviewing State Assembly candidate Diana Shaw. To read about her background go to her website.

Click on continue reading to see the interview.

Here is the information:

Child Safety Event

WHEN:
Friday, December 18, 2009
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WHERE:
Simi Valley Town Center
1555 Simi Town Center Way, Simi Valley CA 93065 | Map

Join Assembly Member Smyth as he hosts a child safety event at Simi Valley Town Center. Come by and find out what Assembly Member Smyth is doing to keep you and your children safe. While you're there, you can also pick up a child safety kit, and have your children fingerprinted.

I changed Assemblyman to Assembly Member. Have you ever noticed the different nomenclature choices between Democrats and Republicans? Assembly Member makes flows better if you ask me.

Just by looking at the background can you identify where in Simi Valley this photo was taken?

After each political season there is always a few signs that stay up for months that are overlooked by the campaigns when they are cleaning up. This time all of the campaigns did a pretty good job of picking up their signs in Simi Valley. But what about in your neighborhood?

This sign is in Simi Valley. If Carole Lutness gives me permission I will go take it down myself.

If you see any signs that remain up, email me and I will post them.

Carole Lutness, past state assembly candidate and current organizer for Democrats in the 38th district, sent out an email encouraging Democrats to get involved and represent their district at the Democratic Party's state convention.

Are you interested? Click on continue reading for details.

After each election there are a few signs that seem to stay up for months in some places. In Ventura County I have used this blog to encourage candidates to take down their signs. If you see a sign still up, send me a photo and I will post it.

Make sure to include the location and if you want credit for the photo.

Click on continue reading for a contest that Carole Lutness, former candidate for state assembly, is running to encourage people to take down her signs.

Let the games begin.

( This video is from the Ventura County Chamber of Commerce forum between the two candidates.)

Newspaper endorsements are coming in for the State Senate candidates. So far Tony Strickland has picked up the endorsement of The Signal, Santa Clarita's newspaper. Hannah-Beth Jackson picked up the support of the Los Angeles Times.

Click on continue reading to see the press releases from the campaigns about these endorsements.

When candidates do not get endorsements they frequently spin that they didn't want them anyway, or that newspaper endorsements don't matter.

But reading these two press releases they clearly do matter to these campaigns. Who do you expect The Star to endorse? I don't know much about the process and I don't have any inside information on the subject.

But I do expect that they will endorse Hannah-Beth Jackson. Do you agree?

What endorsements are available for either candidate in the last remaining days? Anyone know who has tried to stay neutral thus far?

( This is a recent screen shot of the Lutness campaign advertising on my blog. Do you think online ads are effective in local campaigns yet? I have no control over the advertising on my blog, nor do I know the ad rates.)

I don't have much more to say about this campaign but click on continue reading for the latest update from Carole Lutness and her team.

The 38th Assembly District is currently represented by Cameron Smyth and likely will be after this election. He is young, dynamic, and has connections from many different groups. Cameron Smyth worked for former State Senator Pete Knight and was a member of the Santa Clarita City Council.

He is heavily favored to win and it would be a stunning upset for his opponent Carole Lutness to pull out a victory.

But this hasn't slowed her down. Unlike other campaigns I have seen that say they are going to run hard and then don't do much of anything, she is giving it her all. She sends out constant emails, host public events regularly, and gives the perception that there is energy behind her campaign.

Anyways, like I said, Cameron Smyth is the favored candidate at this point. But click on continue reading to see all the different activities that her campaign has going on in the last few weeks.

Carole, thanks for challenging an incumbent and making him defend his position.

Keep sending in the updates. I appreciate it.

The Carole Lutness campaign emailed me a massive update with new endorsements, precinct walking, fundraising and more. Click on continue reading for more details.

Her upcoming fundraiser with Lt. Governor John Garamendi isn't too big of a surprise being that he has already declared his intention of running for governor in 2010. Of all the names being tossed out for governor who do you support? I think Jerry Brown is going to be a compelling governor because of his long life story of serving the public or running for office at so many different levels. What other names have you heard or read?

Have you gotten any mail or seen any campaigning for the 38th district state assembly seat in Simi Valley? Carole Lutness did take questions from my readers and me in a previous entry. Click here to read that entry.