In the latest update David Pollock (D) is in first, with Nathan Sweet (D) in second and David Bagwell (R) in third.

The numbers appear to be final and even with provisional ballots I don't expect the results to change much.

Congratulations to David Pollock.

I said before that Moorpark voters had some decent candidates running for city council, compared to the rest of us that just had some awful choices to make with the propositions.

I will write a more detailed analysis later but here are some quick thoughts:

The Bagwell campaign had the endorsements of State Senator Tony Strickland and County Supervisor Peter Foy. This obviously could have helped him with Republican voters but announcing it in mailers, his website, and the newspaper could have caused a serious net drag with Democratic voters.

In addition, having Tony Strickland and Peter Foy on his side energized Democratic activists from across Ventura County and beyond.

Many Democrats were motivated to elect someone they agreed with to the Moorpark City Council AND to stop someone that is aligned with Tony Strickland. From his resume David Bagwell is a very impressive community member and I expect he will strongly consider running again.

David Pollock was know to many Moorpark voters from past elections. His experience and name advantage likely pushed him over the top.

Nathan Sweet did a great job for a first time candidate and a relative new comer to Moorpark. I expect he will become more involved by continuing to help in his community and by joining local charitable organizations. I expect to see him running again.

Good night.

BTW: If the elections division somehow updates the unofficial results and it changes anything I will apologize. But that doesn't seem likely as the turn out for this election was very low. How was the line when you went to vote? I have never my precinct so vacant before.

Click here for the results from the elections division.

Just a reminder that the event to discuss ways to get your campaigns and causes covered by the local media will be going on tomorrow night. I am moderating the event to direct the conversation and try to make the night effective for local community organizers and activists. Although the event is sponsored by a group of Democrats it is open to the whole community.

Here is my earlier blog entry on the subject:

I will be moderating a forum on how to work with the local media. The forum will provide you with the background and skills to get your press releases printed, your events covered, and increase the attendance at your press conferences.

Representatives from The Ventura County Star, KEY TV, Daily Kos, and more will be on the panel. The discussion and training is open to the public but it geared towards political activists, campaign staff, and candidates for office. The event is going to be a night to network with local activists and to understand how to better communicate your message to the public.

David Atkins, a blogger for the Ventura County Democrats and for Daily Kos recently wrote his thoughts on the Tea People protests.

Click on the image to see his blog entry.

David Atkins does focus groups and polling for political causes. I expect him to be a major player locally in the coming years.

I will be moderating a forum on how to work with the local media. The forum will provide you with the background and skills to get your press releases printed, your events covered, and increase the attendance at your press conferences.

Representatives from The Ventura County Star, KEY TV, Daily Kos, and more will be on the panel. The discussion and training is open to the public but it geared towards political activists, campaign staff, and candidates for office. The event is going to be a night to network with local activists and to understand how to better communicate your message to the public.

David Atkins, a blogger for the Ventura County Democrats and for Daily Kos recently wrote his thoughts on the Tea People protests.

Click on the image to see his blog entry.

David Atkins does focus groups and polling for political causes. I expect him to be a major player locally in the coming years.

This poll is not scientific.

Republican Supervisor Peter Foy ( who supported Alan Keyes and Pat Buchanan for president in the past) has endorsed David Bagwell in the May special election for a seat on the Moorpark City Council.

Click on continue reading to see the press release.
State Senator Tony Strickland and leader of the Ventura County Republican Party also endorsed David Bagwell.

Here is the endorsement from State Senator Tony Strickland:

"Bagwell is a very successful businessman who has been very involved in community activities, and I think we need more people like him to come forward," said state Sen. Tony Strickland, a Moorpark resident.

Moorpark would benefit greatly from Bagwell's leadership, Strickland said. "I think he would be a tremendous councilman."

Click here for The Acorn article with State Senator Tony Strickland's endorsement.

Click here for his website.

I will post the endorsements for any candidate that sends them in or posts their official endorsements. Nathan Sweet was endorsed by the Moorpark/Simi Valley Democratic club.

Click here for a recent article in the Moorpark Acorn covering campaign finance in this race.

The latest campaign finance reports show Firefighter Nathan Sweet raising the most money with Bagwell in second.

The article said:

Campaign finance statements filed with the city on April 9 show that Sweet had gathered $11,485, which is more than any other candidate.

I have heard that Nathan Sweet and his volunteers have knocked on an amazing amount of doors already. Because some voters have already received their absentee ballots a portion of the campaign is already over. Some candidates wait to spend money until the end not realizing the campaign is already in the process of ending.

Click here for Nathan Sweet's website.

Send in any other updates from the campaigns if you want me to post them.

I don't live in Camarillo but it seems like Mark Lisagor's campaign to remove Chris Valenzano from the Ventura County Office of Education has been very effective at getting endorsements, raising money, and putting out a consistent message.

If you live in the Camarillo area what are seeing?

Click on continue reading to see a mailer from both campaigns.

Thanks to my readers who have been scanning and sending in mailers.

If you want to see a mailer posted on my blog, send it to me quickly.

( If anyone has a video of O'hara speaking , send me a link please. Until then, here is MSNBC on Fox News calling a hand gesture that many do a "terrorist fist jab". Watch it in case your neighborhood kids are doing it in front of you!)

The Simi Valley Democrats will be tabling at the Farmer's Market. If you are interested in helping click on continue reading for details.

They also have a new guest speaker at their July meeting about running local campaigns. Finally, the new political consultant in town has been revealed.

Here is their announcement:

SVM DEM CLUB JULY PROGRAM July 16 7PM Community Room SV Public Library

we are going to give everyone an opportunity to learn more about the subject of what it takes to run for office. We have several local seats up for grabs this year so we figure timing is everything.

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Marc O'Hara who will give us a brief introduction to Simi Valley and Ventura County voter demographics as well as a primer on volunteering, staffing, and campaigning for office. The primer will include targeting, message development, and producing high-impact direct mail.

Mr. O'Hara, a fifth generation Californian, is the founder of Precision Politics, a firm that has conducted more than 100 successful campaigns and public affairs initiatives in 23 states across America.

Mr. O'Hara's frequent political commentary has aired on CNN's InsidePolitics, the BBC, NPR and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He is a 10-time Pollie Award winner - the Oscar of politics - for creative excellence in political advertising.