( Simi Valley Blogger Mike Chandler took this video at Bob Huber's event.)

Sheriff Bob Brooks might be retiring but he has one last election cycle when he can use his title and he is using it to endorse Bob Huber for Mayor of Simi Valley. Click on continue reading for the official press release. His endorsement of Dennis Carpenter for Sheriff wasn't enough to stop Geoff Dean's momentum last June but will it hold more sway with Simi Valley voters?

I see this as more evidence that the Ventura County Republican Party establishment has lined up behind Bob Huber. With the support of Tony Strickland, Audra Strickland, Bob Brooks, Elton Gallegly and the official endorsement by the Ventura County Republican Central Committee he has a solid claim to uniting the party behind him.

But what's strange is that he has been able to get support from Democratic Party leaders and unions while having the Republican Party united to support him. His supporters will claim that's because he is able to unite people in pursuit of common goals. There could be a element of truth to that position but his critics will wonder how he has been able to get support from so many public employee unions. I do have a video of him explaining how he switched to being a Republican to support his personal friend Elton Gallegly but the audio quality is really low. So far I'd have to say Bob Huber is running the most bipartisan campaign and Steve Sojka is running the most nonpartisan campaign. Although the two statements seem similar the nuance between nonpartisan and bipartisan is important.

All of the arguments aside Bob Huber's last few weeks of campaigning have been really solid. He has been announcing more endorsements and his campaign is now addressing the landfill expansion with a more specific plan than his opponent. I am not sold on the plan to annex the landfill into Simi Valley but I like that he is addressing specific policies. Click on continue reading to see his press release on the landfill expansion.

The most important issues in this election to many people include the economy, the landfill expansion, and public safety. All of those should be priorities but I also think we should plan for the future by moving forward with the plan to expand and fix the Simi valley Arroyo. When I catch up to Bob Huber next I will ask him about it. That's what is great about being a blogger. I can bring up issues that candidates might otherwise ignore.

I am having a contest here on my blog for top political animal. The candidate that has the best animal with their campaign sign will have their picture at the top of my blog a week from this Tuesday for the primary election.

Geoff Dean is running for Ventura County Sheriff. In the last few weeks his campaign has been gaining momentum by raising more money, putting up more signs, and collecting more endorsements than his opponent.

I haven't seen any polling on this race but I feel confident saying that as of today Geoff Dean is a strong favorite to win. Both he and his opponent have been running energetic campaigns including getting supporters out on corners waving signs, making phone calls, and walking precincts.

His opponent Dennis Carpenter is getting so much support from the local Republican establishment Geoff Dean felt compelled enough to put this in a recent mailer:

I'm glad that Sheriff is a non-partisan office. But it's no secret that I'm a lifelong Republican. When it comes to taxpayers' money, I'm a 'live within your means' conservative."

I don't get every mailer so I don't know how effective Dennis Carpenter's campaign has been at bringing attention to Republican voters that he has the support of the local Republican establishment. Have you been getting much mail on the topic? Send me any mailers from any local candidate you want me to post.

Dennis Carpenter responded to a recent interest group questionnaire that he was pro-life, anti-gay marriage, and in favor of school vouchers.

Geoff Dean didn't respond and I don't know his opinions on those issues. I would like a sheriff that didn't use the position to advocate for Republican causes unrelated to their position. They should speak out on law enforcement issues but the sheriff shouldn't be seen as a partisan activist. I understand Dennis Carpenter was only responding to a questionnaire sent to him but I am wary of a electing a Sheriff that will be out campaigning for Republican causes often.

Click on continue reading for the other pets before you vote.

Dennis Carpenter's campaign has been solidifying support among Republican Party leaders and I expect we will see more endorsements rolled out over the next few weeks. With both Tony Strickland and Audra Strickland running for office I don't know how involved they will be getting but I expect they will be helping Dennis Carpenter.

It would be interesting to see if they start going after more endorsements from school board members, park board members, and even water boards. Geoff Dean has a large fundraising advantage as of now but I expect that will narrow. Will there be IE committees that will form to support Dennis Carpenter?

Does this force Geoff Dean to look for more support from Democratic groups? Over the coming months I predict Democratic activists will see where Carpenter is getting support from and start working to elect Geoff Dean.

The informed voter poll The Star reported on doesn't influence my view of the race much without seeing the questions that were asked. Sure, it is more scientific than the online polls on my blog but that isn't saying much. My polls are to gauge the intensity of the supporters of a campaign and for fun. So far this poll shows both candidates have very energized supporters.