( Ward Connerly has not been known to avoid controversy.)

Ward Connerly is known for leading the movement for Proposition 209 in 1996. Proposition 209 limited the use of Affirmative Action in California. I am often surprised to hear people that should know better believe that affirmative action is used in admissions for CLU and UC schools.

A reader and friend of mine, Natalie Panossian sent in this event announcement:

The Federalist Society's Gold Coast Chapter and
California Lutheran University's Political Science Department Present:

"A Conversation with Ward Connerly, former UC Regent & founder and President of the American Civil Rights Institute"

When: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: California Lutheran University - Lundring Events Center
60 West Olson Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91360
Cost: Free to the public.

Reception with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will precede discussion at 6:00 p.m.

This event provides 1.0 hour of MCLE credit for attorneys; please make checks for $20 payable to "The Federalist Society."

For more information, please contact Gold Coast Federalist Society Chapter President Natalie Panossian, Esq. via e-mail at goldcoastfs@gmail.com. To learn more about The Federalist Society, please visit:
www.fed-soc.org

This could be an interesting event that discusses both the history of proposition 209 but also the recent attempts to change it.

Loyal reader Natalie Panossian asked me to mention that the local Chapter of the Federalist Society is holding a great event at the Reagan Library. Look at this list of conservative pundits, scholars, and lawyers:

Hugh Hewitt
Chapman University Law School
and Syndicated Radio Show Host

Also featuring:
Judge Carlos T. Bea, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Grant Davis-Denny, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Prof. John Eastman, Chapman University School of Law
Steve Greenhut, Pacific Research Institute
Allison Hayward, Center for Competitive Politics
Prof. Dan Lowenstein, UCLA Law
William R. Maurer, Institute for Justice
Jeremy Rosen, Horvitz & Levy
Prof. Ron Rotunda, Chapman University School of Law

The meeting is this Saturday. Click on continue reading for details.

You can vote for as many radio hosts as you would like in this post or add your own. I listen to John and Ken occasionally. They are almost always cranky but they mix their politics with local news. I don't understand why someone would enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh anymore. He has the same predictable opinions day after day.

A friend of mine, Natalie Panossian, is helping put together a candidates forum for local candidates. I haven't been making it out to many events recently but the slate of candidates that might appear will make for a very interesting night.

Natalie,

Any chance this event will be recorded and posted online? Have Audra Strickland and Linda Parks finally agreed to debate ?

The Federalist Society's Gold Coast Chapter And California Lutheran University's Masters in Public Policy and Administration Program Present:

LOCAL CANDIDATES FORUM

Forum will be moderated by Tim Gallagher
Candidates or their Representatives for the following races will be in attendance:

State Assembly - 37th District
Superior Court Judge - Office #1 and #10
Supervisor - 2nd District
Supervisor - 4th District
County Clerk & Recorder
County Sheriff
County Treasurer-Tax Collector

When: Monday, May 24, 2010 - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Click on continue reading for more details.

In other Federalist Society news former Whitewater investigator Ken Starr has defended Elena Kagan as very qualified.

Do you remember when President Obama criticized the recent Supreme Court ruling that undermined our campaign finance system? Some conservative groups argue it won't really change much while others have said it will open our elections to influence from foreign corporations.

My friend Natalie Panossian is helping to host a discussion of the recent Citizens United Supreme Court Decision. Here is the basic information:

The Federalist Society's Gold Coast Chapter And California Lutheran University's Political Science Department Present:

"The Citizens United Case and Campaign Finance:
A Victory for Free Speech or Threat to Democracy ?"

When: Monday, March 22, 2010 - 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: California Lutheran University - Lundring Events Center
60 West Olson Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91360
Cost: Free to the public.

Click on continue reading for the press release.

If any of my readers go please ask the panelists about the impact of the Ventura County campaign finance ordinance.

Steven Hintz is using Facebook to reach out to voters. I will be putting his Fanbox on every entry I post on the campaign to be the next county tax collector. If you are supporting another campaign send me the html ( or send me a message and I will help you create it) and I will post your Fanbox too.

I am excited that web 2.0 technologies are making it easier and easier to join a campaign. If you like a story I post on a candidate you can click become a fan on the end of the post and you will be connected to the campaign.

Steven Hintz has already loaned his own campaign $150,000 to get things started. It must be nice to be able to risk that type of money. Eric Ingemunson has a blog post that includes some biographical details that is a quick read. Eric, it looks like I know who you are going to be supporting. Send me a message if you want to include his Fanbox on your page too.

I heard of Steven Hintz's interest in politics from Natalie Panossian when she was organizing a Federalist Society event that he moderated. I am looking forward to all of the campaigns for local office. I will be covering the campaign for Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector more than any other local source of news.

I recently invited local Federalist Society Leader Natalie Panossian to speak to a group of high school students on legal issues including judicial philosophies, law school, military service, specific Supreme Court cases, international law, and much more. Natalie and I have different political views on many issues but we share a passion for the power education has to help people achieve their dreams. Natalie is hard working, brilliant, and she gives back to her community. We might not agree on some of the most critical issues of the day but I know she is very talented at what she does. She shared with me that a mentor of hers was her teacher, and now State Senator, Fran Pavley. Natalie, thanks for sharing your experiences and hopefully inspiring some more young people to pursue challenging careers.

Natialie has been organizing panel discussions on legal issues including Proposition 8 and now she is organizing a panel discussion on gun control issues. Here is her announcement of the latest forum she is helping put together:

The Federalist Society's Gold Coast Chapter And
California Lutheran University's Political Science Department Present: "The Future of Gun Control and the Second Amendment After Heller"

Click on continue reading for details.

Newly elected Moorpark School Board Member Ute Van Dam has been declared the winner by 94 votes in Moorpark.

Click on continue reading to see her message to supporters.

Click here to see a Question and Answer session she did with readers.

Ute Van Dam, thanks for taking questions from my readers and congratulations on your victory. The transparency you added by taking questions is appreciated. After a few months I plan to ask you to answer questions about the new job.

But for now, is there any formal training for newly elected school board members or have any of the current members offered to show you around?

The Moorpark School Board elections are just another local election that is being mostly ignored because of all the other excitement this year. Natalie Ponassian agreed to answer questions from my readers, which impresses me when you see how many different groups that she works or volunteers for.

I appreciate your time Natalie. Answer my questions and questions from my readers between all of your other meetings.

To my readers: If a candidate takes a few days to answer your question, be patient. Many of them volunteer for charities, hold down full time jobs, and have other campaign related activities to do.

Here are my questions, that are similar to what I ask of most school board candidates.

1. Will you seek or accept the support of a political party for your campaign?

2. What do you think about the process to fire a poor performing teacher? Do you think it is too easy, reasonable, or too hard to fire a teacher?

3. Have you attended many school board meetings?

4. Is it a conflict of interest to get the support of teachers since you could be voting on their contract?

5. What local politician do you respect for the work they have done for our community?

Thanks for your time. What questions do my readers have for Natalie Panossian?

For more information:

Click here for her Linkedin profile.

Click here for a brief SmartVoter Guide. ( Let us know if it updated soon.)

Click here for a profile in the Moorpark Acorn.

Click here for the endorsement from The Ventura County Lincoln club. which declined to endorse another Republican, Ute Van Dam, that is also running. Ute Van Dam is a Democrat. I updated my post to reflect her registration.