I am posting pictures from the event on Twitter and on my Facebook page for this blog. Connect with me there and see how many of politicians you recognize.

The labor Day picnic is a great event for candidates and activists to connect. I plan to go tomorrow and talk to many of the candidates. Click here for more details.

Are you going?

The American labor movement has seen better days. Many other industrialized nations have much stronger labor movements and protections for workers. Labor heroes like Woody Guthrie continue to remind union members of their greatest victories on behalf of working people.

Have you seen the original lyrics to This Land is My Land by Woody Guthrie? Labor union members have had a rough year with pushes to eliminate their ability to organize across the country. Republicans in the House even were willing to stop the FAA bill unless they could further restrict the ability of unions to organize.

Locally the Democratic Party has strong support from labor unions. That includes help in organizing events like the Labor Day picnic. This year it will be exciting because of redistricting. It will be interesting to see which candidates for the House, State Assembly, and State Senate have a booth there. I want to see David Pollock and David Cruz Thayne work the crowd.

This is a great event for candidates to practice their speeches in front of a friendly audience and to gather support from party activists. Almost every serious candidate for a legislative office will have a presence.

You can post pictures of the event of the event on my Facebook page for this blog. Speaking of which if you want to discuss local politics but don't like the level of discourse of anonymous people on blogs join the discussion on the Facebook page. It is much more civil.

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?

Democratic Party nominee Tim Allison took has been working hard in his campaign to bring a serious challenge to Rep. Elton Gallegly. As of now Rep. Gallegly does have the advantage but that isn't because Tim Allison isn't working hard. Here are some photographs from his 4th of July weekend.

He started campaigning at the Ojai Valley Parade with family and other supporters:

He then attended a fundraiser put on by the Working Blue Democratic Club that he helped organize:

In this photograph are Heather and Hank Lacayo, Jason Hodge, Ferial Masry, Rep. Lois Capps, Leah Lacayo, Bill Fulton and Tim Allison.

The Working Blue Democratic Club is raising money to open offices in East County, including Simi Valley, for the November elections. Anyone interested in helping can run the offices can contact them or their local Democratic Club. The offices will be helping elect Democrats to office including local offices.

A friend of this blog, Jason Hodge, along with the Working Blue Democratic Club are putting together a large fundraiser to finance offices in East Ventura County for the 2010 General Election. Democrats running for local office in East County should attend and show support for a united GOTV effort in East County. That includes city council, park board, school board, and other positions.

Some of the guests include:

Senator Fran Pavley
Assemblymember Pedro Nava
Assemblymember Julia Brownley
Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma
Ventura Mayor Bill Fulton

Click on continue reading for the invitation and details.

The Working Blue Democratic Club has also been traveling to help John Laird in the special election for State Senate. Send me more photos and I will post them.

When googling John Laird I found a link to Ebaum's World, a crude humor website, where "CalChamberjobs" posted a negative video of him. Strange spot to push an attack ad but that's how politics works I guess.

Jason,

When is the next time you plan to have Ventura County Democrats travel to help John Laird? Have you met John Laird before? What do you think of him?

Heather Lacayo, who is being mentioned for a new leadership role on the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee, sent in the following note with the picture above:

Hi Brian,

A group of Ventura County democrats, led by Working Blue Democratic Club President, Jason Hodge, rented a van this morning to drive volunteers to Santa Maria to support the Laird campaign, in SD 15, that will be held on Tuesday, June 22nd. This seat runs 5 counties long and is very important to our goal of a 2/3 majority in the State Senate.

We're on our way now and wanted to send a note to say hello and to get out the word that we're on our way...but we'll be back!

Pictured left to right:

Raul Razo
Heather Lacayo
AC Carbajal
Rick Mora
Monica Mora
Jason Hodge

All the best,

Heather

The special election to fill the seat that became vacant when Abel Maldonado was confirmed as Lt. Governor is tomorrow. I am impressed how quickly one election season ends and the next begins. Thanks for the update Heather! Keep sending them in.

Thanks to Democratic Party activist Sharon Hillbrant for allowing me to post her photos of the event.

Candidate for Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean quickly helps candidate for the Democratic nomination for 35th State Assembly District Susan Jordan hang her sign. Dean is a Republican but is trying to earn votes from across our community. Warren Harwood, candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 37th Assembly district. is in the background. He doesn't have a website or any online presence that I can find.

I have more videos and pictures to post later this week. If you have videos of pictures from today you want posted send them to me.

Former State Assembly candidate Ferial Masry has news regarding her intentions:

Candidate for Sheriff Geoff Dean (R) worked the crowd. Here he is speaking to Ventura City Council Members Brian Brennan and Ed Summers. I expect Geoff Dean's list of endorsements will be updated with new bipartisan additions soon.

I ran into a friend of this blog Denis O'Leary of Oxnard. Denis has been a long time activist for a variety of progressive causes.

State Assembly candidate Susan Jordan gave a speech that outlined her life story and the causes she supports. Her opponent Das Williams was there too. I will post his picture later. Das, if you have pictures from today you want posted send them in.

Here are a bunch of polls related to the labor day picnic and candidates that were there.

Click here for the news story from The Star.

( Jason Hodge is on the right in this photo from Hannah-Beth Jackson's Simi Valley Campaign office.)

A new group called the Working Blue Democratic Club is holding their first fundraiser this weekend. Their guests will include Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza, Ventura County Board of Education Member Ramon Flores, and others.

The Chair of the new club, Jason Hodge, wrote many blog entries for this blog from the inauguration of Barack Obama.

Click on continue reading for details.

I am behind on a few entries so if you haven't seen something you sent in please wait a few days.