I don't have a budget for prizes but if you are up for it try to guess the identity of these Ventura County politicians:

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And click on continue reading for a difficult bonus question!

Post your answers as a comment by clicking on continue reading.

( I found this amateur video in support of Roseann Mikos for the Moorpark City council on youtube.com )

The Moorpark City Council had a choice on what to do with the open seat on their city council. They could appoint someone who then would run for the open seat with all of the advantages of incumbency or they could do what they just did when they appointed someone to serve the term, but not run again, allowing for a more level playing field for any potential challenger.

Click here for the story.

Even if my favored candidate had a chance to be appointed I would rather them win it in an open election.

During competitive elections campaigns inform voters on local issues and their differing visions. Elections add legitimacy to government. New people are brought into the process which allows the elected official to call on their team to fill positions on committees and to volunteer on projects.

Elections can be expensive and I understand that during tough budget times calling an election for a council seat doesn't sound that appealing.

But if there is going to be an opening on the council I would prefer an appointment of someone that doesn't plan to run again.

The governors of Colorado, New York, and Delaware are expected to appoint replacements soon. Add to that whatever happens with the mess that is happening in Illinois and I would prefer that these seats from city council to the US senate were filled by elections, not appointments, and when that isn't possible by someone that isn't going to run again.

Thanks to Moorpark for setting an example.

In Simi Valley rumors have been swirling for months that two of the council members will be running against each other for mayor. If either of them wins that will leave an open spot on the council that could be filled by an appointment.

If you are interested in helping me convince the Simi Valley City Council to set up an alternative to appointing someone that will then run again as an incumbent, let me know and let's work on the policy before we know who any of the personalities might be.

None of this should be construed to say that appointed politicians that then run as incumbents aren't decent elected officials or that they wouldn't win on their own merits. I just think they should have to work for it.

Thanks to Moorpark City Council Member Keith Millhouse for donating the most to this blog's fundraiser earlier this year on behalf of Baghdad pups, an organization that helps bring the dogs that military members adopt while in Iraq back to America. America: We invade countries, topple dictatorships and then adopt some stray dogs. Make sure to keep our troops in mind over this holiday.

The video is of American troops dancing in Baghdad. Keep watching until you see the moves of some of the Iraqi kids. Funny stuff.

And here is an odd story from the New York Times that you shouldn't read before eating turkey:
Meet your turkey.

Moorpark City Council Member Keith Millhouse is running for reelection. If you live in Moorpark please seriously consider voting for him.

You know I don't endorse many local candidates, but Keith has shown himself many times to be an innovative policy maker.

Earlier in the year I held a fundraiser to help military members bring back their adopted dogs from Iraq. Keith came through with a very generous donation. Also contributing was long time reader and commenter NostraDemus.

I have been impressed with Keith Millhouse over environmental issues. Unlike some Republicans that talk a good game, Keith is serious about our environmental future. If he runs for higher office I am going to seriously consider volunteering for his campaign.

Keith, your prize to write about any topic you want awaits you when you have the time.

Local officials are reacting to the Metrolink disaster in many ways. Moorpark City Council Member rode the train with Mayor Villaraigosa the other day and spoke about the crash. To read his press statements click on continue reading. Council Member Millhouse is vice chairman of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority and has been involved in regional transportation issues for years.

State Senate candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson sent out an email to her supporters with ways to help.

Ventura City Council Member Bill Fulton has written his thoughts on his blog.

If you see other local officials commenting on the tragedy or asking people to help support local charity groups in relation to the tragedy please leave a comment with a link to the story.

( The official Metrolink logo from their website.)

( In his run for County Supervisor Denis O'Leary was endorsed by UFCW Co-Founder Delores Huerta. He has been a long time supporter of unions and their ability to improve workers' lives.)

Former County Supervisor candidate and current school board member Denis OLeary sent me a copy of Oxnard School District's new living wage resolution. Click on continue reading to view the entire resolution. I have not studied the financial impact of the issue or the impact on the lives of the employees. But I figured I would share with you the new policies that local elected officials are pushing to implement.

It got me thinking about other policy innovators from across Ventura County. Regardless if you agree or disagree with their policy preferences or not there are some elected officials that push for policy innovation and some that improve on the existing ways of doing things.

In your town, who are the policy innovators? Here is a few people I want to draw attention to their efforts:

County Supervisors:

Steve Bennett. I haven't followed him closely lately but his campaign finance reform and limits on urban sprawl or growth has captured my attention.

Peter Foy: He pushed for term limits for county supervisors. I think the proposed rules will be on the ballot. Is that correct?

City Councils:
Keith Millhouse. Between pushing for a transportation bond to looking at ways to reduce plastic bags in Moorpark the man that I am going to start calling Mr. Transportation for his focus on traffic seems to be constantly looking for new policies for his town.

I don't want to name all of my choices and take away your opportunity to nominate people so I will stop there.

Nominate someone as a policy innovator. You don't need to agree with their policies to nominate them. They could be from your city council, park board, school board, or another elected official.

Ventura City Council Member Bill Fulton has updated his blog. I guess that proves it isn't just an election tool for him. Bill, what has the response been like so far from Ventura citizens? Do many of them talk to you about it? I liked your entry about the length of meetings.

What local elected officials would you like to see a personal blog from? If there is an overwhelming response I will propose it to The Star and the elected official that it be done.

Start nominating elected officials you would like to read more from!

I nominate:

Moorpark City Council Member Keith Millhouse
County Supervisor Peter Foy
Simi Valley City Council Member Glen Becerra

I would also like to see some park board, water board, and school board officials bring more light into what they do.

( A video critical of Sen. Chris Dodd for his favorable home loan that has raised ethics questions. For more reading on this issue click here. A friend thought I wouldn't talk about it as I am too partisan. Well, I finally found a local tie in.)

Looks like Rep. Gallegly refunded a recent contribution from CountryWide CEO Angelo Mizilo but it doesn't say why. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page to see it. I had the wrong link in there earlier. Thanks for pointing it out I have corrected it.

It might be completely meaningless or explainable but if the Democrats were organized you would expect to hear about it more. A campaign, not a blogger, would have discovered it.

Have you heard from his Democratic opponent? If you see an email from her send it my way.

If you see her at an event, send in pictures.

Through the last reporting period Marta Jorgensen spent $1,375. That's correct! She won her primary without spending almost any money and according to the last filed FEC report no contributions from individuals.

She is a zen master at campaigning. Rep. Gallegly better be prepared. She doesn't need to spend money to win. I am trying here. If you have your own spin to add let me know. What would you suggest to Marta Jorgensen to do to overcome Rep. Gallegly's name ID and massive war chest?

Seriously, Elton we know you are heavily favored to win. We know Republicans nation wide are afraid to talk about Iraq. But are you that afraid of Marta Jorgensen?

Why not talk about Iraq on your issues page?

Is it some DC consultant that chose to leave talking about Iraq off your issues page?

Take a chance. Talk about Iraq on your issues page.

I know you need to run a campaign but representing us is your job. Don't run away from it. If it was an oversight done by some staff members remind them about what is important to voters.

In related news Moorpark city council member Keith Millhouse is considering running for the seat when Rep. Gallegly retires.

There are many names being mentioned as potential candidate but over the weekend I heard a dark horse candidacy mentioned. The Republican primary to replace Rep. Gallegly could be really exciting. What names have you heard or what candidates would you like to see in that primary?

I also heard a rumor that Audra Strickland plans to run for County Supervisor. I assume she is intending to run for Peter Foy's seat since I have heard he isn't running again for that seat. Maybe he is planning to run for congress too?

Have fun sifting through campaign finance reports.

Moorpark city politics just got more interesting with the announced retirement of current Mayor Patrick Hunter. I don't know enough about the issues in Moorpark to give a fair assessment of his leadership but I would like to nominate City Council Member Keith Millhouse as a potential replacement. Keith Millhouse is a Republican, lawyer, and environmentalist. He is also a great friend of this blog. He donated the most to a charity drive that I had recently and he has taken questions from readers. He even backs a dog park in Moorpark, something I strongly support.

Keith, I make a motion to nominate you for mayor. Do I see a second?

A few weeks back someone asked me if there was any Republican that I would vote for over a Democrat locally. There are more but Keith is at the top of my list.

UPDATE: Janice Parvin has announced she is running for mayor.

Click here to read The Star article.

On John McCain's website there is a section of campaign gear you can purchase that have an environmentalist theme to them. Even though some far right critics attacked him for it and said he would not earn green votes for his efforts ( I do know one young environmental activist that is a Republican but the environment is her focus. Being Green keeps people like her from shifting their support to candidates like Barack Obama.) I believe it is a major change in American politics.

It appears as though George W. Bush will be the last anti-environmental president. Republican and Democratic leaders agree that climate change is real and human influenced. They also agree that actions needs to be taken.

( Tony Strickland and Hannah Beth Jackson agree climate change is real and human influenced. Kind of reminds me of this odd couple.)

In our area Tony Strickland is trying to show that he is an environmentally friendly candidate. He has spoken many times about his company, GreenWave Energy Solutions, and their effort and exploring more alternative energy sources.

His critics will attempt to claim the whole thing is a greenwash attempt. That he voted against the policy preferences of all the prominent environmental groups while he was int he state assembly. They also ridicule his company because it doesn't have a product, a profit, or even revenue beyond investment capital.

All of that may or may not be true.

But what is true is more important. The day when environmental protections only came from one party are over. To be an anti-environmentalist isn't going to be effective any longer.

The new debate is over what party has better ideas on the ways in which we provide for our energy security and protect our environment. The battle of ideas has shifted over. Republicans are quickly trying to get green as many of them distance themselves from past policies and statements.

Remember this one from Ronald Regan?

Republicans will not go back to Ronald Reagan's statements that show him at odds with environmentalists, but instead they will argue that their free market solutions will be a better way of protecting the environment.

Democrats will have to make the case that Republicans are not serious in their new found devotion and that their policies will be ineffective. But the middle has shifted and the new debate has been set.

The campaigns locally have already started adapting to this new world. Tony Strickland's campaign sent out a press release touting an award from a political wing apparently of The United Chamber of Commerce to his energy company.

Expect Hannah Beth Jackson's campaign to be critical of his voting record, his plans, and his company. Expect them to be critical of the award. But don't expect the environment to be an issue that only one party attempts to win votes off anymore.

For the Republican Party as a whole it will take more than an election cycle or set of candidates to gain voter trust but they won't be giving up.

Click on continue reading to see the press release about Tony Strickland's Award.

I know Moorpark city council member Keith Millhouse has been a strong advocate of working together to address climate change but has anyone seen a statement that shows where Elton Gallegly stands on the issue?

County Supervisor Peter Foy ( Peter, if you want to clarify and extend your remarks I will post them on the front page) is isolated as a part of the old guard that denies the earth is heating up at all. In the future there will be more Republicans like Arnold Schwarzenegger ( check out the Green theme to his website as he moves beyond the Republican Party), John McCain, Newt Gingrich, and if he is successful Tony Strickland.

Put another point on the scoreboard for Team Strickland.

( Here is a short clip of Greenland I took as we flew over Greenland a few years back.)

As the price of oil climbs higher I have heard a variety of arguments about how we should respond.

They include:
1. Drill More ( Rep. Gallegly).
2. Drive less or smaller vehicles ( Not Rep. Gallegly).
3. Cut gas taxes ( McCain and Clinton).
4. Get OPEC/The Saudi's to help us out.
5. Open the Strategic Oil Reserves or stop filling them.
6. Mandate better mileage standards on vehicles sold.
7. Invest in mass transit with the boom from gas taxes.
8. Invest in alternative energy including wind ( Gallegly again. Although not sure the direct connection to gas prices. It is hard to make wind energy into something most cars use.), Wave ( Alternative Energy Executive Tony Strickland), Nuclear, and other sources.
9. Check your tire pressure more often.
10. .

I am most interested in solutions that reduce short and long term oil demand.

We must do something about climate change, even if Peter Foy doesn't believe the world is heating up. If you have changed positions or you were quoted wrong Peter Foy send me an email and I will correct myself.

So, what are your preference for rising fuel prices?

Thanks to Moorpark City Council Member Keith Millhouse for the topic suggestion.