A reader posted this question for Ventura County Supervisor candidate Bob Roper:

By Harold Godwin

Mr. Roper,

If you had been supervisor at the time, how would you have voted on the expansion Waste Management's dump in Simi Valley and the importation of trash and debris from outside of Ventura County? What is your philosophy about the rights of property owners versus those of the community? Do you believe a supervisor should vote to support any or all development in another district if the supervisor representing that district supports it? Do you believe your responsibility is only to those in your district or to the full County?

Please respond with YOUR thinking on this issue in order to give us some insight into how you make decisions. I am sure that there are many - throughout the County - who want to know more about you.

Steve Bennett - who voted with the rest of the Board to make expansion a reality - he has been silent about his reasoning.

Bob Roper replied but it was not posted. I apologize for the delay because it was caught in my spam filter. Here is his reply:

Thanks for your questions. We weren't checking Brian's blog every day, but will now keep a close eye so we can be responsive to your questions. It is important to me that a Supervisor be accessible on important issues. First, let me respond to the question about representation. My primary duty is to the people who voted me in office within my District. My next duty is to make sound policy decisions on the regional issues that affect the County as a whole. I believe in protecting private property rights within the framework of our laws and using our democratic process. Constituents are a mix of private property owners and other residents that form the foundation of our community. As a Supervisor, I refer to the "community" as a whole as its impossible to delineate between those who own property and those who rent. Second, regarding Waste Management. I do not have all the facts to give you a complete response, but let me respond to the general question. An elected Supervisor should not cast their 1/5th vote on any policy item unless they fully agree with the policy. A yes vote is a yes vote and an elected official cannot shirk his/her responsibility at a later date. A Supervisor is elected by their District voters, yet makes policy that affects the entire County. There is no written rule that you honor the issue in another District and I will cast my votes on each policy item in the best interest of my District and the County. Should you have any questions, I'm available at bob@roperforsuerpvisor.com anytime. Thank you, Bob Roper

Thank you Bob Roper for answering a question from my reader.

I predicted that the Democrats under the leadership of Hannah Beth Jackson would make the Ventura County Republican Central Committee regret soliciting $50,000 from a cigarette company to help Tony Strickland in the fall campaign.

( Another defense of cigarette company donations)

Hannah Beth Jackson has sent out an email that appears to be just the opening to the attacks she will be directing at Tony Strickland. Expect months of the barrage aimed at how campaigns are financed.

In the comments section several people have pointed out that the state Democratic Party has taken tobacco money and that the state party gives money to local candidates and parties.

Is there degrees of guilt? Is there a difference between soliciting the donation and getting money from a state party that gets it from somewhere else?

There is two major problems with donations from sources the public doesn't trust as I see it.

1. It appears that the special interest group is trying to buy a legislator's vote. If this is the case it is on the person making the accusation to prove the politician altered their behavior in the way the special interest group favored. Has the California Democratic Party changed their positions after receiving tobacco money? Go do your research. What were the most important bills that the tobacco companies had an interest in?

2. The special interest group is funding a candidate that shares a policy preference. In this case we should know what the shared view is between the two. What issues does Tony Strickland or the state Democratic Party agree with tobacco companies on? Does Hannah Beth Jackson have any evidence that Tony Strickland agrees with the tobacco companies? What are the bill #'s from his days in the assembly?

Click on continue reading to see the latest email from Hannah Beth Jackson.

In other Hannah Beth Jackson news when you look at the email check out the new sophistication in Hannah Beth Jackson's campaign in her email which includes many ways to connect to the campaign.

For some Tony Strickland news Timm Herdt's top blog entry is about Mitt Romney's upcoming fundraiser for Tony Strickland that Strickland said he expects will help him raise $200,000 towards his state senate campaign.

Here is a video of Tony Strickland talking about why he supports Mitt Romeny:

This is a copy of an agreement between the City of Simi Valley and Waste Management in regards to fees, traffic impact mitigation, and an expansion of the landfill.

On one of the documents it says the city will support the expansion of the landfill. What does that mean? It is legally binding? Does that mean all council members must support it? I don't want to speculate too much before someone that understands this issue more adds to the discussion.

I altered two documents. I highlighted one document and I put a cup of milk on another. Sorry about the rings.

Many of these documents are in the public domain but if you don't know what you are looking for it is hard to find it. Thanks to my new source of information. Keep it flowing.

To the landfill expansion committee: Keep us updated. bring back some pictures from the tour that Mike Smith has offered to your group.

Simi Valley Democrats scheduled to have a discussion about the proposed dump expansion

Wednesday, June 20th• 7:00pm

Guest speakers include council woman Barbra Williamson and State Senate candidate Jim Dantona.

There is a rumor that Bill Davis is thinking of running for mayor again.

( Thanks to loyal contributer Brian Mack for another amazing photoshop. For the record Britney Spears is not currently trashing Simi Valley. Yet. Seriously, why don't those cities get their own dump? Are they too good for it? )

UPDATE FOR THE BRITNEY SPEARS FANS. THE TRASH FROM MALIBU REFERS TO THE TRASHBAG, NOT BRITNEY SPEARS. PLEASE STOP E_MAILING COMPLAINTS!

The Star has an article today about the proposed expansion of the Simi Valley landfill. The proposed expansion will continue to take trash from the surrounding region. This story will be dominating local politics and elections for a long time. Personally, I want to open a massive dump in Thousand Oaks and put all of our trash there. Maybe even a used tire lot. Who's with me?
UPDATE: It is a joke. I am not in favor of turning Thousand Oaks into a dump.
Here is the article from The Star. Kind of surprising that other council members ( besides Barbra Williamson) or Peter Foy weren't quoted. Maybe in the future? I don't want my city leaders to comment at the very end. I want them to be there the entire time working in public view. This a tough issue and I expect ALL city leaders to comment.

The article does mention former ( or current if he runs for State Senate) candidate Jim Dantona though.

Also, click on continue reading for more information.

Local Citizen ( and city council member) Barbra Williamson has sent out a press release that she is forming an ad hoc committee
( that is unrelated to the city of Simi Valley) to look into any expansion of the Simi Valley landfill.

Barbra gives credit to this blog for helping to formulate the ideas behind of the committee. In the next few days expect to see a story in local papers.

I hope she includes people from a variety of backgrounds to ensure the public is aware of the different proposals.

The big questions are about taking trash from outside cities, daily truck trips, and their environmental programs. Go to their website to see more about their environmental programs.

Click on continue reading for more details.

Digital Democracy is here to stay. Like it or not politicians ( and/or their staffs) read blogs and respond. I want to take it to the next level by creating public committees to research and report back to our readers.

My first committee will look at the proposals to expand the Simi Valley Landfill.

I want a diverse committee that will look into all the alternatives ( maybe more recycling that will help WMI's bottom line and prevent the need for an expansion?), ideas, proposals, and the like and report back to us.

Most of the work will take place on my blog but a few face to face meetings will take place also.

This is how I envision it. The committee meets at a local pancake peddler and shares background information, articles, and ideas. Afterwards they break up and do some research. They then meet up and discuss what they have found out on this blog so everyone can read it.

The committee doesn't need to agree on anything except to come back and discuss what they found out here. That way they have time to talk to WMI people, city people, and people from the county and other local agencies.

Imagine it as a committee of citizen reporters who will report back to the rest of us.

Then anyone with access to an internet connection can leave feedback and tell the committee what information they would like to know more about.

I don't have a dog in this race. WMI is a private land owner with rights to use their land. But I would like to make sure any deal is done in the open, not behind closed doors.

The next step? I am going to create a committee. I want tough, independent minded people that I know will dig for the truth.

I am nominating Jim Dantona as a member of the committee. I figure if Waste Management can convince Jim Dantona after how much he has gone after him then they can convince the rest of us.

I also nominate the blogger known as "Bubba Kidd". I think if Bubba Kidd and Jim Dantona ever agree on anything it will be a miracle.

I would also nominate Katie Teague but I believe she is from West County.

So with that I leave the floor to open it up to other nominations. Who else would my readers like to be a part of a committee to inform the public?

( One of the three people in the picture is Bill Davis. I guess they are part of some formal shoveling team. Kind of strange to do yard work in a suit but when you are the mayor, or former mayor you can do what you want apparently. )
UPDATE: Apparently the picture is from the Simi Valley Hospital ground breaking.

On a different blog entry Simi Valley City Council woman Barbra Williamson revealed that former Bill Davis told her he is running again in 2008. That opens a bunch of questions for me.

1. Does that mean current Mayor Paul Miller isn't running again?
2. If he is running again, is he going to run against him?
3. Why did he retire from the job if he still wants it?
4. What accomplishments is Bill Davis most proud of? I think the Amtrak station is pretty sweet.
5. How hard will it be for people leaving comments to bring up any issue besides Waste Management?
6. How many developers, lobbyists, consultants, and corporate spokespeople are either running for local office or hold it?

What is going on with any expansion? I remember it coming up in past election cycles but I haven't seen anything since then. Have any of you?