My reader and contributer, Katie Teague, has updated the file on Ventura County elected officials with all of the suggestions and corrections that my readers made. It includes their party registrations, when their terms are up, and email contact information.

Post a comment with any corrections that need to be made.

You will want to bookmark this entry. Campaign and activists can use it to invite people to events, ask for endorsements, and to lobby elected officials personally.

Show your appreciation for this free resource by leaving Katie Teague a comment.
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The California Association of Political Centrists ( CAPC ) have released a scorecard on how the candidates they rated in this past election did. Click on continue reading for details.

Because their membership is made up of people from both parties they are frequently viewed with suspicion by people left and right.

When I 1st got an email from Katie Teague talking about her new group a few years ago I immediately googled her name and found out she was a Bush/Cheney volunteer and organizer for Ventura County. Needless to say I was suspicious if her new group was really a Republican front.

Katie, I was wrong.

Anyways, what are the plans for the next year? Do you see CAPC getting involved in the Venutra City elections? What about any other local elections or reforms?

CAPC has been a resource for data for me and I appreciate the work your members do.

( State Assembly candidate Ferial Masry w/ CAPC Leader Leslie Cornejo. Photo from Ferial Masry's website.)

The California Association of Political Centrists has released their ratings of candidates ranging from school board to state senate.

CAPC members, which candidate took the longest or was the hardest to rate? Are you going to do the same for Simi Valley school board? What about Simi Valley city council?

Click on continue reading to see their ratings.

It won't surprise many of my regular readers but The California Association of Political Centrists ( CAPC ) leadership isn't exactly huge fans of Tony Strickland and his politics. They released their ratings for the most contested election happening in Ventura County this season.

Katie Teague or Leslie Cornejo, could you or other CAPC members answer a few questions?

1. How did you come to this decision? Did you meet in person? Vote on it? Was it more of a consensus?

2. How has former State Assemblymember Dr. Keith Richman been involved in the group lately? Do you think that his past political positions as a moderate have made it harder on your group? He has upset people on the left and the right locally.

3. What other positions do you plan on rating this election season?

4. I am surprised that Neal Andrews hasn't spoken out about this election. I know he is a leader for McCain in Ventura County. He must have something to say about the state senate campaign.

5. How would the group rate the governor's tenure thus far? If you want, speak for yourself instead of the group.

The leaders of The California Association of Political Centrists call out a few local politicians and the Ventura County Republican Central Committee over missing forums or debates in an editorial in The Star.

Why is it that Ventura County doesn't have more town hall forums during an election season or after?

Click on continue reading to see the editorial.

( The name of the band is "Middle of the road".)

The California Association of Political Centrists is soliciting their members for opinions about endorsing a candidate in the State Senate campaign between Hannah-Beth Jackson and Tony Strickland. Katie Teague sent me an email that went out to their group members. Click on continue reading to see it.

Of all the endorsements not yet announced in Ventura County, which is the most valuable? I would think Mickey Jones could help. Any other ideas?

Should CAPC make their opinion known as a group?

I say go for it. If you think she will stand up for moderate voters, redistricting, and she is wants the groups endorsement, why wouldn't you do it?

Does Tony Strickland even want their support? It doesn't sound like it.

( Connect the name of this band to this entry as a challenge.)

The California Association of Political Centrists ( CAPC ) working with The Star and CLU is putting together some great events locally. To see a full press release you normally need to click on continue reading, but to thank Katie Teague, Leslie Cornejo, Joe Howry, and all the other people volunteering to put together these public forums I am posting the full press release on my main page.

Here is the press release from CAPC:

For Immediate Release

California Association of Political Centrists (CAPC) has joined forces with the Political Science Department of California Lutheran University and the Ventura County Star newspaper to put on a series of candidate forums for the citizens of Ventura County . The second forum is going to be held at the CLU Oxnard campus. It will be moderated by CLU's Jose Marichal, PhD, Political Science and Sociology Department. All questions will be vetted by Joe Howry, Editor, Ventura County Star. It will take place at the CLU Oxnard Hall at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 24. The Gold Coast Hispanic Chamber will be a participating organization.

Thursday, September 25 at CLU Oxnard Campus at 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Oxnard Center

2201 Outlet Center Drive Suite 600

Oxnard , CA 93036

Board of Supervisor - Debate ( Ventura County Star will provide questions)

John Flynn, Incumbent

John Zaragoza, Candidate

Ventura County Board of Education (10 minutes each)

Dr. Mark Lisagor- candidate for 3rd District

Dr. Ramon Flores - candidate for 5th District

Proposition 11 - Redistricting (10 minutes each)

Pro Argument - Leslie Cornejo, CAPC

Con Argument - Dave Rodriguez, LULAC

Measure U - Unification (7 minutes each)

Pro Argument - Camarillo Unified

Con Argument - John Alamillo (former PVSD trustee), 4Allthekids

No Response

Chris Valenzano, Incumbent, Ventura County Board of Education, 3rd District

Dan Miller, Candidate, Ventura County Board of Education, 5th District

Leslie Cornejo, State Chairman of CAPC believes, "It is important to become informed and engaged as voters so that we have a truly representative government acting on behalf of the people and our priorities. These candidate forums will assist us to do just that. We hope everyone will take this opportunity to become better informed."

Forum proxies will be allowed but they may not be elected officials or candidates seeking other office.

More information can be found on the CAPC website, www.PoliticalCentrists.com

###

The California Association of Political Centrists is hosting a East Ventura County Candidates' forum next week. Joe Howry from The Star will be running it.

Click on continue reading for details.

Many candidates will be there including school board candidates, Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Ferial Masry. It isn't surprising that Tony Strickland has said he will not attend the forum.

I would guess that he is avoiding the leaders of CAPC as they have been critical in the past. But is there any debates scheduled between the candidates? Are there any groups willing to put on a debate between the state senate candidates? If you know of a group Tony Strickland might speak in front of please post some suggestions.

I doubt there will be a forum between the candidates unless it is scheduled soon. Maybe a one on one forum between the two at Simi Valley city hall with Joe Howry moderating?

( Here is a video of Timm Herdt in case he tries to sneak into your events.)

I haven't written much about Charles Weis in the past because it doesn't seem to draw people in unlike other actions by the county board of education. Here are some recent stories about him.

1. He was offered a home loan as part of his compensation package from his new employer.

I heard about this but I didn't write about it because he is no longer a county elected official. For the same reason I haven't been posting about Tom McClintock's victory in the Republican Primary for congress in Northern California. It is a close call. They both have connections here but it seems they are losing news value for local voters.

2. Timm Herdt wrote a blog entry pointing out that Weis was the only county wide elected Democrat. With Democrats having a registration edge in Ventura County what office will they make a serious attempt at first?

3. The process of replacing him is ongoing. Has anyone heard something new about it? Even though it is a nonpartisan position I bet they somehow end up with a Republican. That's what happens when two board members are also members of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee. The new person might be highly qualified but the pool seems like it will only be open to Republicans. Do you agree?

On a side note here is a partisan break down of most offices in Ventura County. I am sure there are a few updates to it but it is close to accurate.

( Do you remember the Judge Wapner?)

Have you been following the race for Judge? In Simi Valley it seems Jeff Bennett is running with Rep. Gallegly as I see their two signs together. How are you going to make up your mind? Both candidates are Republicans and both have strong backgrounds.

Both of them have endorsements from a wide group of community members. Bennett has the support of previous Democratic congressional candidate Michael Case and Rep. Elton Gallegly. That was surprising to me as Bennett seems to be tied into the local Republican Party fairly well. Roberto Orellana earned the endorsement of The Star due in part because of his willingness to have his confidential referrals be open to the public.

Both candidates attended the recent debate in Simi Valley put on by CPAC.

One of Orellana's supporters, attorney Brian Vogel, sent me this email to post explaining why he supports his candidate. If you click on continue reading you can see Orellana's background.

The following few paragraphs are from Brian Vogel:

I am a lifelong liberal democrat who graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut , went to law school, became a public defender, and recently opened my own practice. My wife works at County Counsel with Roberto Orellana who is running against DA Jeff Bennett for Superior Court Judge here in Ventura . Many of us in the legal community encouraged Roberto to run because he is qualified, intelligent, fair-minded (even though he is a Republican) - and every other qualified lawyer was too chicken to run against the DA machine on short notice.

To give you a little background, Judge Bruce Clark retired a few days before the deadline to submit papers for the June election giving no advance notice to the legal community and prospective judicial candidates. The DA's handpicked candidate, Jeff Bennett, submitted papers immediately and held a press conference, probably expecting that noone would run against him on such short notice. Roberto had the courage to stand up and run on very short notice. Please help us support his candidacy and feel free to forward his qualifications to prospective voters and anyone who you think can help out financially. His list of endorsements and qualifications are available at www.Roberto4judge.com and donations can be made via Paypal. He still needs money for automatic phone calls and possibly radio air time.

We have enough white, DA Republicans with no civil experience on the bench already. His opponent was a cop who went to a local law school and then got hired by the DA where he has been ever since. Roberto has vast civil experience and impeccable academic qualifications. He graduated cum laude from Notre Dame Law School , wrote on the Law Review and clerked for a Ninth Circuit Judge. He will also be only the second Hispanic on the bench along with Judge Covarrubius now that Judge Gutierrez retired. A simple comparison of their credentials makes the better choice obvious, yet the political machine in this county makes the overwhelmingly more qualified Hispanic candidate an underdog in this election. If the voters are educated as to the credentials of the two candidates and vote wisely, Roberto should win handily. Thank you for your consideration.

Next Week The California Association of Political Centrists along with the Ventura County Star will be holding a candidates forum for CA 24 ( Currently Rep. Elton Gallegly).

If you could ask any of the candidates including the incumbent one question what would you ask them?

Here are my questions:

Democrat Mary Pallant: Many of the groups that support you are very liberal. Do you think you fit ideologically with this district?

Democrat Jill Martinez: Do you live most days in this district? If you don't , why not move here? Could I suggest a real estate agent to you?

Republican Michael Tenenbaum: What do you know about Rep. Gallegly that you haven't campaigned on? Is there some reason you think you can do better this time while spending less money? Would it be in the long term interest of your party if Gallegly lost in a general election?

Republican Elton Gallegly: When you first ran for congress in 1986 you said

"New ideas come with new blood .... I want to get the career politicians out of Washington and make them go home and live under the laws they've passed."

Were you wrong to run on that idea since you stayed in Washington for so long?

After all these years do is it fair for us to call you a career politician?

What questions would you like asked? Leave them in the comments section. You do not need to register to leave a comment.

On a side note: City Council Member Michelle Foster's website is up for sale. Go to electmichellefoster.com to buy it.

This Thursday Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will be at Paul's Italian Villa after the debate for a rally. I am sure all the local political officials will be there. If you go, bring a camera and take some pictures for me to post.

Ask the local players that show up to the rally if they plan on endorsing Rudy.

I will give plenty of blog space to the leading candidate that invokes Ronald Reagan the least. We all know they like Ronald Reagan, but I am hoping they don't go overboard. It isn't like if they mention him the most they will win the nomination.

If you see any other events for the debate let me know.

Click on continue reading for event details.

In related news I am looking for official bloggers for the candidates. This is your chance to write for this blog. So, send me an e-mail if you want to be the official McCain, Giuliani, Obama, Clinton, Edwards,Gore, or Romney blogger. You will get access to the front page about every week to push your candidate.