Steve Bennett has ended his campaign for Congress and announced he is running for re-election. His re-election to the Board of Supervisors is complicated by the many candidates that have declared since they thought there was an opening.

As of now there are officially 2 Republicans, 1 decline to state, and 1 Democrat running for that position. As the only Democrat in an area that has a voter registration advantage for Democrats and as an incumbent he has a strong chance of being re-elected.

Here is his official announcement:

Dear Supporter,

Yesterday, I announced the end of my Congressional run and the resumption of my efforts to be re-elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.
A variety of reasons were involved in my decision. Ultimately, given the circumstances, I believe I can make more of a difference working for the residents of Ventura County as a County Supervisor should I be fortunate enough to be re-elected.
If you were a financial supporter of my campaign, I will be returning all donations as soon as possible, and my wife and I will be covering all of the campaign expenses.
New candidates are now looking at the race. When this settles down I will communicate to those of you who supported me financially concerning who I believe will give us the best chance to keep Tony Strickland from winning the seat.
Thank you for your support and I will keep in touch.

Steve Bennett
Ventura County Supervisor

P.S. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions by writing to me at stephenbennett@charter.net.

He includes that new candidates are now considering joining the crowded field. Who could those candidates be? Many people have mentioned Rep. Brad Sherman as a candidate. Brad Sherman has officially denied any interest in running for the Ventura County based district. He is currently running against fellow Democrat Rep. Howard Berman.

Brad Sherman would be a formidable candidate. He has a sizable war chest and an effective campaign team. Democrats are strongly motivated to avoid a contested primary between Bard Sherman and Howard Berman. This could be their solution. Brad Sherman previously represented the Conejo Valley in Congress.

How do you think this latest announcement by Steve Bennett changes the election? Who benefits the most?

( 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.

Rep. Brad Sherman is among the many area legislators that schedule free and public town hall meetings. I appreciate that his website has a section dedicated to town hall meetings and other public events.

I find it really funny that local Republicans get angry over something Rep. Lois Capps or Rep. Brad Sherman say at a town hall meeting but don't seem to notice that Rep. Elton Gallegly doesn't hold town hall meetings.

Here is his statement regarding the use of violent language in political discussions:

SHERMAN URGES MORE CIVIL DEBATE

Those Who Advocate Violence Should Be Repudiated

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Sherman issued the following statement about the need to tone down political rhetoric in the wake of the tragedy in Tucson.

"When you have a heart attack, it's time to stop smoking. It's not necessary to wait for proof that tar and nicotine caused that particular heart attack.

"For years we have inhaled the toxic fumes of violent political rhetoric. It's time to stop now. If violent rhetoric was not the precise and provable cause of the assassination attempt in Tucson, it will surely be the cause of violence in the future. Those whose language and rhetoric go over the line must be criticized and disowned, not only by their opponents, but also by their supporters. So far, this has too rarely happened."

"Last summer Sharon Angle stated 'if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies,' followed by the statement, 'what we need to do is take Harry Reid out.'[1] Read in context, her statements implied that if her side could not control Congress through ballots, they should use bullets.

These statements should have derailed her Senate campaign, but Angle paid only a slight political price. Even when she repeated the same sentiments again, Angle continued to receive unqualified support and money from respectable mainstream Republicans.[2]

"As Gabrielle Giffords said last spring, 'people really need to realize that the rhetoric and firing people up... They've got to realize that there are consequences to that action... community leaders, not just political leaders, need to stand back when things get fired up and say whoa--let's take a step back here.'[3]

[1] Greg Sargent, Washington Post, 6/15/20 - http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/sharron_angle_floated_possibil.html

[2]Anjeanette Damon and David McGrath Schwartz, Las Vegas Sun, 6/17/10 - http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jun/17/senate-race-armed-revolt-angles-rhetoric-candidate/

[3] Gabrielle Giffords, MSNBC, March 25, 2010

Going after Sharon Angle reminds me of that SNL skit where a candidate continues to run attack ads against his opponent after a campaign is over. But it is amazing that a candidate like Sharon Angle was close to holding a position in what used to commonly be called the world's most deliberative body. The members of my local school board or park board are more qualified to hold a Senate seat.

We all should accept responsibility to make sure our political debates are worthy of our nation.