Recently in Jason Hodge (D) Firefighters' union leader + activist Category

Thank you Rep. Paul Cook and former State Assembly Member Fiona Ma

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Got out tickets for #inaug2013 from Representative Cook's office! http://pic.twitter.com/vhFqMvrq (For more Tweets here are the Twitter handles of my students covering the inauguration. @ElectorChris @MackieAbergel @BecahJayy )

Thank you to former State Assembly Member Fiona Ma for contacting Rep. Paul Cook's office and setting up my students Rebecah Jacobs and Mackie Abergel with tickets for the inauguration. Thank you also to my friend Jason Hodge for helping to set it up.

For coverage of the inauguration from my students using Twitter check out the page the VC Star set up.


Facebook Supporters Count: State Senate District # 19

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A local Republican activist posted this status update on Facebook. It got me thinking I should post the amount of Facebook supporters for a variety of campaigns.

Here are the numbers for State Senate District

Hannah-Beth Jackson:
247

Jason Hodge:
108

I support Jason Hodge.

What's the best use of Facebook you have seen in a Ventura County campaign?

Jason Hodge Collects More Labor Endorsements

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State Senator candidate Jason Hodge announced he has collected more endorsements from labor groups for the upcoming June primary.

The other expected candidates are Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson and Republican Mike Stoker.

I know Jason personally and I like him. He has experience as a firefighter, political activist, and in his role lobbying for firefighters. He wrote updates from the inauguration for my blog.

I like this campaign photo of him surfing because it represents the Jason I know. He is a serious political organizer while also a local guy that doesn't take himself too seriously. I liked his entry into my photography contest.

I like Jason Hodge, but I am not going to post personal attacks on his opponents. I find it boring that supporters from both sides want to make trivial differences into major issues. I will interview him when I get a chance. I am most interested in his views on education reform.

My question is do how you decide which candidate to support when they have similar voting records or platforms? What makes you want to strongly support someone in a primary when they are ideologically close to their opponent?

I want to especially hear from Hannah-Beth Jackson and Jason Hodge supporters.

Jason Hodge Preparing To Run

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( Jason Hodge speaking out on education funding.)


Jason Hodge is well-known to many of my readers. He has been a community activist and a progressive leader for many causes. Go through my archives for guest blog entries from him and an interview with him. Now he is preparing to run for the State Legislature. The district lines aren't finalized but preparations for many candidates have begun. Jason Hodge starts off with many advantages. He is popular with grassroots activists, he has connections at the state level, and as a firefighter he has credibility on safety issues.

I will be glad to be among his many supporters. Here is his fundraising email to get his campaign started:


Dear Friends,

We are less than 12 months away from choosing who will be our legislators in the new districts and we must act now. California is in a fiscal and moral crisis. We are at a true crossroads where we can choose to continue down a failed path of gridlock and inflexible ideology or we can work together to achieve the dreams of a golden future for all Californians.

I believe I can be the kind of balanced legislator who puts people before politics. My life is committed to helping people through volunteerism and public service and I've even made a career out of it as a fireman. But now I find that bandages and fire hoses are not enough to save the lives that are at risk. Our elderly are in danger of losing crucial services. Our children are in danger of having no future at all. Because of this I am now looking to protect people not from the Firehouse, but from the Statehouse.

To help our community have the representation we need in Sacramento, I opened an account at the beginning of June to show my desire to serve. To demonstrate the breadth of my support, I am launching my 72 donors in 72 hours effort. By June 30th, I'm asking friends and colleagues to show your support with a modest donation of $250, $50, $20, or whatever you can afford. Please click on the link today and send a message that Ventura County is ready for leadership dedicated to making the California dream a reality.

Thank you for your friendship and support.

Jason Hodge


Click here to donate or go to the site below.
https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/27291

Jason Hodge, Bob Rust, Steven Hintz and Arleigh Kidd WIN!!!

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I have been running a contest for my readers to submit Where in Ventura County pictures that include pictures of their signs in an interesting location. Here are the winners:


Most on message photograph:


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Honorable Mention:

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Best essence of Ventura County:


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Honorable Mention:

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Fan Favorite (Determined by unscientific online poll results):


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Click on continue reading for the other pictures.


Where In Ventura County: Jason Hodge For Harbor Commission

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This is my personal favorite entry so far in my Where in Ventura County contest. His entry is on message and has an interesting story. The goal is to make it hard, but not impossible, for my readers to guess where a picture was taken. Jason will tell us the background story to this picture after we get a few guesses.


I know Jason Hodge personally and if I could vote for him for Harbor Commissioner I would. I don't offer many endorsements on my blog but I know Jason has the passion and skills for this position. Check out his website or Facebook page for more information on his campaign.


4th Of July: Tim Allison For Congress Edition

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Democratic Party nominee Tim Allison took has been working hard in his campaign to bring a serious challenge to Rep. Elton Gallegly. As of now Rep. Gallegly does have the advantage but that isn't because Tim Allison isn't working hard. Here are some photographs from his 4th of July weekend.

He started campaigning at the Ojai Valley Parade with family and other supporters:

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He then attended a fundraiser put on by the Working Blue Democratic Club that he helped organize:

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In this photograph are Heather and Hank Lacayo, Jason Hodge, Ferial Masry, Rep. Lois Capps, Leah Lacayo, Bill Fulton and Tim Allison.

The Working Blue Democratic Club is raising money to open offices in East County, including Simi Valley, for the November elections. Anyone interested in helping can run the offices can contact them or their local Democratic Club. The offices will be helping elect Democrats to office including local offices.



Working Blue Democratic Club July 3rd Democratic FUNdraiser

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A friend of this blog, Jason Hodge, along with the Working Blue Democratic Club are putting together a large fundraiser to finance offices in East Ventura County for the 2010 General Election. Democrats running for local office in East County should attend and show support for a united GOTV effort in East County. That includes city council, park board, school board, and other positions.

Some of the guests include:

Senator Fran Pavley
Assemblymember Pedro Nava
Assemblymember Julia Brownley
Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma
Ventura Mayor Bill Fulton

Click on continue reading for the invitation and details.


The Working Blue Democratic Club has also been traveling to help John Laird in the special election for State Senate. Send me more photos and I will post them.

When googling John Laird I found a link to Ebaum's World, a crude humor website, where "CalChamberjobs" posted a negative video of him. Strange spot to push an attack ad but that's how politics works I guess.

Jason,

When is the next time you plan to have Ventura County Democrats travel to help John Laird? Have you met John Laird before? What do you think of him?


Democrats Holding Labor Day Picnic This Weekend

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( Have you seen this video of Rep. Barney Frank ridiculing a woman at a town hall forum?)

This year a group called "Working Blue" made up of labor unions is hosting the picnic. Seems fitting for a Labor Day event.

This event is a great way to meet elected officials and party activists. I am planning on going and doing some interviews. What questions would you like me to ask of the elected officials and candidates that are expected to be there?


Click here for the details.



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Democratic Labor Group Raising Money

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( Jason Hodge is on the right in this photo from Hannah-Beth Jackson's Simi Valley Campaign office.)

A new group called the Working Blue Democratic Club is holding their first fundraiser this weekend. Their guests will include Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza, Ventura County Board of Education Member Ramon Flores, and others.

The Chair of the new club, Jason Hodge, wrote many blog entries for this blog from the inauguration of Barack Obama.

Click on continue reading for details.

I am behind on a few entries so if you haven't seen something you sent in please wait a few days.

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Jason Hodge Back In Town

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A friend of mine Jason Hodge wrote several updates from DC detailing his experience at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. He is back in town and sent in a letter to the editor that was published thanking people. Here is his letter:


I would like to thank The Star and Brian Dennert for allowing me to blog my experience at the 44th inaugural on their Web site. Had Brian not been cracking the whip on me, I would not have myself a personal history of this fantastic experience.
Kudos to The Star as well for having such great coverage of all Venturans who were in attendance.
I would also like to thank U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly for helping me orchestrate my trip and being such a gracious host. Not only did he provide us with two tickets into the inauguration, but also, when I found myself in a two-hour line for the House office building, he personally walked out to get them to me. He and his staff could not have been more accommodating.
-- Jason Hodge, Oxnard

Jason, thank you for reporting the events back to us and for sending in pictures. Some of my readers that don't comment said they really enjoyed your entries.

In other related Rep. Gallegly news do you remember he briefly ran for governor? And while googling his run for governor I found an article detailing his stand against bear baiting. I am firmly against bear baiting, but I admit I thought it had something to do with circus bears. Seems like a logical law.

Both stories are old news and aren't enough to post an entry on alone but they are interesting to me.

Click here for the bear baiting article.

Reporting From DC: Jason Hodge Dispatch #5

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Jason,

Thanks for writing all of these reports. I know between all of the walking, the cold, and traveling you must be tired. We appreciate it. I know you will come back even more motivated to answer the call that Barack Obama has put forth for our generation.

Here is Jason's latest report:


Brian,

This blogging gig is tough. Every time I need to sleep I feel like I need to sit down and write something. I have a new appreciation for you and Marie.

I would love to describe today in some sweeping emotional tones but to be honest Im just too tired. You saw it on television. You believe in change. You don't need me. We are all here together in spirit. Thanks for reading this and know you all have my love. I'll just try to give you the facts to the little bits that your missing (or not missing).

We started early today watching TV to see if traffic was impossible or the metro was our best bet. By about 630 my sister decided that we were stupid enough to try to drive all the way to union station.

Stupid like a fox! Apparently everyone else chickened out from driving because we drove 10 miles in seven minutes and had no problems . Every 3 or so blocks we'd hit a military checkpoint but we'd just say " were going to union station" and our boys in camo would smile and let us through.

The line into the inauguration was long but not too unwieldy. It took us a good hour and a half to get through but it was little to ask to be a part of this important occasion. Once in we had a good spot just 200 yds from the podium. I was happy as a clam but my 5'4 sister wasn't quite in the clear spot that I was in. I would normally feel pity for her but when she was coming back from the facilities she literally bumped into Samuel S Jackson who was waking with Mariah Carey. Almost makes it worth the 8 degree temperature.

The inaugural was amazing. I know most of you saw it so theres no reason to recap. The only thing you may have missed was that every time the announcer said "please be seated" we all cracked up because there was not a piece of dirt left to sit on. My only other non-viewable moment was when the presidential motorcade arrived. The crowd went crazy with excitement and love...... then someone realized the president in the motorcade was W. The crowd then immediately bursted into boos. To be honest I thought the crowd was a little tacky but funny nonetheless.

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Later in the evening we headed to the official western ball. It was a fantastic event with people from all over the western states dancing and celebrating the new president. When Obama spoke the crowd was much louder than any other time in the day and the feeling of victory was finally complete. I've been to hundreds of concerts over the years and dozens of political rallies but never have a seen so many people together in a sense of purpose.

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The night went well overall. If Jay Kapitz has some story about me forgetting one of the tickets and my sister having to rickshaw 20 blocks to go find it I have to say that Kapitz is a pretty shady character and I wouldn't believe a word he says.


Not bad seats!

Brian Dennert here

This blog is dedicated to Ventura County politics. Send in ideas for posts to briandennert@gmail.com
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