The Ventura County Star's Timm Herdt wrote an article about the contest for nomination to take on Assembly Woman Audra Strickland that prompted me to ask what my readers think about this campaign.

Ferial Masry:

Pluses: On the one hand we have a Saudi born woman that draws worldwide attention to the virtues of American democracy. Ferial Masry, as a high school teacher and immigrant, has a important story to tell about our nation and our values. In addition, her son Omar ( full disclosure: I have known Omar for a few years) served in Iraq and helped to show this wasn't a crusader war for conquest but instead a war designed in part to help the people of Iraq. Ferial Masry, just by running, strengthens America's democracy and broadens the base of the Democratic Party. Click on continue reading to read an update from her campaign.

Negatives: Ferial Masry stands very little chance of winning. She has already lost twice to Audra Strickland and I don't see any real reason to see a fundamental shift. In the last two campaigns she hasn't shown the ability to raise the hundreds of thousands of dollars it would take to make this a competitive contest.

There was a debate over the fairness of a mailer her campaign was using. Click here to see the mailer and read the discussion.

A campaign supporter that sends me updates responded to my requests for clarification with this statement:

Ferial made those flyers for this cycle BEFORE Hare was in the race. He got in very late... sorry for your confusion... Renee

David Hare:

Pluses: With a strong connection to the local agricultural community David could reach out to groups not currently connected very well to the Democratic Party. David owns his own small business and could campaign on his experience battling against bureaucracies when trying to get a business off of the ground. David is also a strong environmentalist which seems a natural fit for parts of the district. He also has done a better job raising money.

Negatives: David is being attacked for the legal hoops that he has had to jump through in the process of running his business. I don't know the level of infractions he has against him but most business people will tell you that almost any business has a history of some sort of warnings, violations, lawsuits, complaints, or financial disputes. It is up to voters to see if the charges are serious or frivolous. From what I have seen the complaints seem rather minor. I am interested to see how good of a campaign Hare puts together in anticipation of the open seat in about two years when from the looks of it Jeff Gorell will be running on the Republican side.

So, what do you think? How are you or did you make up your mind in this campaign? Is asking how much money each candidate raised a decent question?

Has CAPC rated the candidates in the primary?

( David Hare, candidate for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Assembly Member Audra Strickland. To see his website click here. His opponent is Ferial Masry. If you have pictures oft he Street Fair email them to me and I will post them.)

So, how did The Simi Valley Street Fair go? What candidates did you see? Who did you speak to and about what?

What city is holding the next event where candidates can meet the public in an informal setting? Independence day celebrations?

Ferial Masry appears to be using a flyer left over from a previous campaign. There is nothing wrong with that but in this case it is potentially misleading as some voters would assume the Ventura County Star editorial quote is about her primary election opponent, David Hare when it is actually about Assembly Member Audra Strickland.

I call on Ferial Masry's campaign to clear this up and apologize.

If this mailer isn't really being used currently I apologize to the Masry campaign who besides this incidence runs a very ethical campaign in my experience.

( David Hare at a political registration and education day at Frontier High School in Camarillo.)

The campaign for the 37 Assembly District Democratic nomination ( Currently Audra Strickland R Moorpark) between David Hare and Ferial Masry seems to have all the momentum going in David Hare's direction.

Anyone hear of Masry campaigning outside of Democratic clubs?

Being that Tony Strickland and Audra Strickland will both be on the ballot would David Hare or Ferial Masry work best with Hannah Beth Jackson as a quasi running mate?

Click on continue reading to read the press release from David Hare's campaign.