Here is their announcement:

Pizza and a Movie Night - Third Friday Each Month With the Democratic Campaign Council of Ventura County

This Month's Movie is "Gasland"

Friday, June 17, 2011, 7 p.m.

The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudi Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations in a new film called "Gasland."

Click on continue reading for details.

For a counter point of view watch this youtube video:

What do you think? Is fracking that dangerous or are the negatives exaggerated?

There was a movie on their list of documentaries I will not post a blog entry on. Feel free to try to guess which movie and the reason in the comments.

Here is the announcement from the Ventura County Democratic central Committee:

Ventura County Democratic Party
Offers $1,000 Scholarship

The Ventura County Democratic Party is now seeking student applicants for its $1,000 Jack O'Connell scholarship.

Click on continue reading for more details.

My former student and current political science major at UCSB, Mike Gillooly is a previous winner. He has been blogging about his time as an intern in Wasgington DC. With his humility, work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and talents he has a promising future in politics. It is an honor to have been his teacher.

Please pass on this opportunity to some young people. With the cost of education going up this could help.

This looks much more interesting than the typical party meetings. What political films have you seen that you would like to recommend to others? I liked Waiting For Superman and Street Fight.

National and Statewide campaigns frequently have post election panel sessions to discuss the results and to share insider stories. I look forward to this tradition being extended to Ventura County politics. It would be great if video of the event is later posted online.

Here is the announcement from some local Democrats:

Ventura County Campaign 2010 Forum: What worked and didn't
Thursday December 9, 2010, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

We invite you to come hear from campaign experts and candidates about the results of the local election in Ventura County, learn about all the facets of the California Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign, discuss the campaign techniques that worked and didn't, and begin the planning for the 2012 election. If you volunteered during the 2010 election cycle, your attendance at this event and input is important.

This event is sponsored by the Democratic Campaign Council of Ventura County and is open to registered Democrats only. It is free of charge, though we are always happy to accept donations. Snacks and beverages will be served.

For information, call the Democratic Campaign Council of Ventura County or email Brian Leshon at BLeshon@VenturaCountyDemocrats.com.

What will be covered:

* Ventura County Election Results
* Ventura County Election Analysis
* California Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign
* Volunteer Input

Speakers:

* Brian Leshon, moderator
* David Atkins, Ferial Masry Campaign and Ventura County results
* Timm Herdt, journalist, Ventura County results
* Sandra Kinsler, CDP Coordinated Campaign overview
* Tom Mullens, candidate

Many candidates pay to be included on targeted slate mailers. Sometimes they are deceptive, like when a Republican Simi Valley City Council Member pays to be included on a mailer with the headline: Voter Information Guide for Democrats. That's okay as she helped to fund a mailer for all of the Democrats listed that did not pay!

If there is an asterisk next to a candidate's name that means they paid to be included on the slate mailer. The best I have seen is when conservative Democratic Party Republican Party leader Audra Strickland paid to be on a mailer with John F. Kennedy on it. Audra Strickland is a proud conservative Republican. Her inclusion on that mailer doesn't reflect her voting record.

The endorsement of a party allows access to resources for a candidate including databases of voters, inclusion on official slate mailers, invitations to events, being put on the agenda to speak to party club meetings, and more.

Because of the great campaigns being put on by many proud Democrats like Nathan Sweet, Bob Rust, Marie Panec, and more I expect that Democrats will come out as winners in Ventura County this week. They won't win every contest but they will have a deeper bench of leaders after the ballots are counted.

The Democratic Campaign Council of Ventura County is having a Halloween party that includes a costume contest. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday October 30, 2010 Time: 6:00 PM - ? Location Magnificent Spooky Estate of Melissa Demarco Camarillo, CA 93012 Admission : $30 Regular - $50 V.I.P (includes Open Bar) Buy Tickets Online at http://www.actblue.com/page/halloween2010 Great Food and Good Times Come in Costume and Win Prizes, It will be an Eerie Fright! FUND-RAISER TO HELP DEMOCRATS WIN IN VENTURA COUNTY Classic Rock and Blues By Teresa Russell and Cocobilly RSVP to Melissa Demarco Missydemarco@aol.com

I will post pictures of some of the creative costumes. Any costume ideas?

At the state and federal level it will be tough for either party to flip seats this November in Ventura County. As it stands now I won't be surprised if there are no changes in party control over state assembly or congressional seats.

But at the local level Democrats have a strong chance of increasing their representation on many school boards. Filling nonpartisan seats might not sound like much of an accomplishment but it helps a party in many ways.

Winning seats on school boards, city councils, and park boards allows a party to build a bench of candidates for future elections. It isn't a requirement for someone running for the state legislature or congress to have held office but it helps that a candidate has had experience raising money, asking people for their endorsements, and the other basics of campaigning.

Party members holding seats can also help other party members earn endorsements. These endorsements add more legitimacy to a campaign and help make connections to donors and campaign volunteers. Future Democratic candidates for office will likely have a much friendlier time asking for help with the new Democrats I expect to be elected to school boards in several East County cities.

Make no mistake. When we are told that nonpartisan races aren't partisan, that's not how political insiders and central committees view them.

The Ventura County Democrats Labor Day Picnic event is coming up again and this is a reminder that any Democratic candidate can get a free table to put out materials and to talk to activists at the event.

Click on continue reading for details.

The event is open to the public and candidate for nonpartisan positions are welcome to attend. Last year Geoff Dean went and spoke to the crowd. Click here to see my coverage of last year's event. This year I wonder if Republican Bob Huber, who has endorsed by many labor unions and Democratic leaders will attend, or if Republican Steve Sojka will use the opportunity to show he plans to be a bipartisan leader. They are the only two candidates running for mayor of Simi Valley. It would be great to see the candidates for Treasurer Tax Collector, Republican Steven Hintz and Republican Don Facciano, out there too.

Are you going?

Team Huber has sent out a press release touting their endorsement by former Ventura County Democratic Central Committee Chair Hank Lacayo. I knew it was coming because Lacayo attended a fundraiser by Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly for Bob Huber but this makes it official.

Hank Lacayo has been a union organizer, party leader, and is now a senior citizen advocate. Lacayo did not wait to see if a Democrat ran for mayor to support Bob Huber. Hank Lacayo does cross party lines in his endorsements as demonstrated in the June Primary when he endorsed Republican Tea Party backed Mark Lunn for County Clerk against Democrat Jim Dantona.

Bob Huber also has the support of the highest elected office holder Democrat in Simi Valley, School Board Member Rob Collins. Team Huber has the start of a mailer targeting Democratic households being put together with these endorsements.

A turning point in this campaign could be who can reach out to earn support from prominent Republicans and Democrats. The Simi Valley School Board has three Democratic Party Members, The Water Board has a Democratic Party member and the Park Board has at least one Democratic Party member.

At the Sojka fundraiser I spoke with many liberal people that are supporting him but I haven't seen him reach out yet at a Democratic Party meeting or to prominent Democrats like new VCDCC Chair Richard Carter.

The Simi Valley Democratic Club is open to candidates running for nonpartisan positions to talk at their meetings. Before the June Primary both Republican candidates for Sheriff spoke at club meetings for Democrats and were well-received. Candidates for Mayor, City Council, School Board, and Park Board should send an email and ask for a few minutes to share their platform. A Mayor needs to be the Mayor of all of Simi Valley, regardless of party.

The Ventura County Office of Education is a mysterious entity to many voters. The County Office doesn't focus on supervising local school districts but instead helps to run programs that multiple districts use. There is an elected board but unlike other local school districts there is a directly elected Superintendent. Their program areas include some teacher training, running Gateway schools, working on charter school issues, managing internet connections, some special education programs and a few other programs. To many observers a position on a local school board is much more influential.

I teach in Ventura County and in that role I have very little direct experience with the county office.

Examine their website to learn more about what they do. In the past Governor Schwarzenegger proposed eliminating County offices of education to streamline the education bureaucracy.

Rachel Ulrich is running to replace Mary Louise Peterson ( Who often goes by ML ), who isn't running for re-election to the Board. Judging by her biography, campaign team, and list of people endorsing her I expect she won't draw a tough challenger.

I have requested to interview her on an upcoming Thursday night. I will ask her questions on charter schools, the proposals to eliminate the position she is running for, her qualifications and more.

The Ventura County Democrats have opened an office to help organize for the 2010 General Election. They are requesting cash donations so they can pay for the following:

1. Phones and phone service for the call bank. 2. Computer parts (hard drives and memory) to fix up the donated computers. 3. Copy machine and printer supplies - copy paper, toner cartridges, repair contract. 4. Internet wireless router - so anyone working in the office can have Internet access. 5. Security system and cameras. 6. Locking file and storage cabinets. 7. Refrigerator, coffee, water, and snacks for our volunteers. 8. Huge sign that can be easily read from the 101 freeway. 9. Keep the office after November 2010.

They are also open to donations of any of the above materials.

Click on continue reading for their email and click here for their website.

There is a protest outside Rep. Elton Gallegly's office today. Send me any photographs you want posted.

On Thursday Nights I interview people that are interesting in Ventura County politics. That includes candidates and activists. I don't always support their views of their campaigns but I find it interesting to learn more. Send me an email if you would like to be interviewed.

Tonight I am interviewing the new president of The Ventura County Young Democrats, Andrew Parada.

The interview is just between us but when it is over post your own questions and Andrew can respond to them.

Click here to check out their Facebook group page.

Andrew, click on continue reading for your first question.