Isn't it convenient that this comes out two weeks before the election? Someone's getting nervous. I have to assume this is a counter to a mailer that was just sent out regarding Lunn's double-dipping.

I don't know how much prozac Barbra was taking the day she reported this story, but if this was a serious concern for her, why is she bringing this out only now?

Also, how can we take her word for it? Is there any proof that Dantona committed to donating these funds? If so, it needs to be put up on this blog. Otherwise, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to take the word of a politician just because she says so.

If Barbra said aliens visited her and gave her a campaign contribution, would you believe that? If Barbra said Eric was good looking, would you believe that?

Present some evidence. Look at Brian's blog, he shows proof that Lunn is a Teabagger. Lunn denies it. But look, Lunn's name and place of residence is shown on the page. He even received an e-mail gift. Isnt that something?

What a loser this guy is. There was enough on the public record about this guy's financial calamities to make your skin crawl - way before Barbra Williamson's news broke.

This is just another one of a zillion reasons not to elect this guy. I think we're going to need to start calling him "Jimmy the Welcher."

What makes my skin crawl is just imagining Lunn wearing a tea party hat at the county government cent protest.

I tell you I was driving north bound on the 101 and I saw in the field a sign of Audra Strickland. I almost blacked out. I hope the sign gets removed for being a distraction to drivers.

I'm glad there isn't a sign over by Mugu rock, otherwise these drivers will end up like Thelma and Louise and want to drive off the cliff.

I'll take a cup of tea.

Oh Barb, let's talk about the real reason why you're on a crusade to trash Dantona. Take your estrogen honey, this behavior is unbecoming.

Woman Scorned, Williamson isn't on any crusade. She didn't come to me with this information. I called HER to ask what made her decide to endorse Lunn since she's endorsed Dantona in the past.

She said two reasons: 1) she didn't know her friend Dantona was running at the time she endorsed Lunn, and 2) even if she did, she probably would have yanked her endorsement because he pledged to a charity and never paid up.

Williamson probably never would have told anyone in the media about this had I not investigated it. That's hardly a crusade to trash anybody.

Mr. Integrity wants some tea.

Funny... I remember attending the opening of Veteran's Park in Simi Valley when Barbra "opportunist" Williamson couldn't say enough about Jim Dantona's generosity and assistance in helping to raise money to get the beautiful park opened.

Her words said something to the effect of "there are too many people in this town who really don't know how hard he works for this community and how generous he truly is."

There was no political campaign happening at the time and no pressure from party insiders to provide character assassinations on someone who provided financial assistance to Barbra's causes for years, as well as the local YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Youth Baseball, Simi Valley & Royal High School sports programs and Baseballers Against Drugs.

I know this because I helped recruit assistance for many of these programs and assisted Mr. Dantona in donating.

So give me a break with your self-important "investigation" Eric. The Republican Party scolded her after the Supervisor race and told her she better get in line if she wanted to save her seat on City Council.

I know Dantona well and I know he has been helping support - in no small way - his own parents - one with cancer, one who died of Leukemia in 2007.

Should we have a battle of which "terminally-ill patients" he should support?

The truth is that the complete story on Jim Dantona is this:

"He's demonstrated a life-long pattern of GENEROSITY to this present day..." and he is human.

This generosity is something Barbra Williamson has acknowledged publicly on many, many occasions and been the beneficiary of - both personally and professionally, and has conveniently forgotten today.

What voters SHOULD ask themselves is:

"If Barbra Williamson would do this to a personal friend, I'm wondering what Barbra Williamson would do if he wasn't a personal friend."

But you are right about one thing Eric - voters should think very long. They should think long before buying into convenient investigations and opportunistic City Council members with serious bouts of spineless political amnesia.

Shame on you Barbra Williamson.

Fair Weather, I appreciate most of what you write--you bring a perspective to the story that's beneficial to anyone reading it.

But I disagree that Barbra is guilty of "character assassination" here--I think that's a charge that's more appropriately leveled at someone who says something that is misleading in order to hurt someone politically. I haven't heard anyone deny that it's true, in fact, the opposite. I reiterate that Barbra hasn't mentioned any of this before, and she didn't come knocking on my door to write about it.

When I called her, she wasn't exactly dying to talk about it. She said she and Dantona went back a long time, but that it didn't sit well with her when someone breaks their word to a charity. Sticking up for the less fortunate is a good thing, in my book.

I think all of us can sympathize with that, just like people should sympathize with Dantona's situation with his parents. He should get a pass with the recent stuff had not there already been an established pattern of failing to meet obligations.

Dantona may be a great guy. I've never met him. You sound like you know him well, so if you want to go on the record with your real name, email me at eric@ingemusings.com and maybe we can work out a guest post on the subject.

Will somebody just give Lunn some tea?

Barbra Williamson knows well that long after fundraisers are conducted, you continue to make calls for the money that was pledged. That's not irresponsibility, that is part of the process. She know this well because she has raised money for campaigns and charities for decades. She knows this because she has helped raise money for Mr. Dantona's charities and he has helped raise them for hers - time and time again.

And I guarantee you that there were times when people who pledged money to her or to Mr. Dantona for these political and charitable campaigns, followed through long after the event. And I guarantee you both Mr. Dantona and Barbra Williamson were grateful for their support whenever it arrived. And I guarantee Barbra Williamson was one of those people.

For her to suggest otherwise, is fundamentally false... and seemingly spiteful.

You are right - you do not know Mr. Dantona... at all. If you did, it would make it far more difficult to label and demonize him with the aloofness that is a staple of political blogs. That's not personal criticism - it is a sad fact.

The truth is there are many individuals with various political ideologies who support Mr. Dantona's campaigns - not because they are political soul-mates, but because they have met him - they have worked with him or they have seen first-hand the good he has done for others. To me - and to them - that is far more important than any prefabricated candidate talking points will ever be. This Barbra Williamson also knows only too well.

Like you, I do not believe Barbra Williamson is guilty of character assassination. I believe she is pitifully guilty of allowing herself to be used by those who are.

Thank you fair-weather for your comments. Finally the truth is out there. Maybe Eric will look at the REAL facts and issue an apology for some of the harsh comments that he's made towards Dantona. I understand you have to be loyal to your party, but in this situation, you need to look at what's really going on.

He was delinquent, because he was dealing with his cancer stricken father. If you were in that situation, wouldn't you put your flesh and blood first? How do you condone Lunn's dirty campaign tactics, while you've been presented time after time with the reality of Dantona's family situation? Shame on Lunn and shame on Barbra for the continued cheap shots.

Fair Weather, thanks for your comments. Although we disagree, you nevertheless present your arguments in a thoughtful way--though you throw around "character assassination" a bit too freely.

amigo805, you're another story. If you think that saying a candidate is financially irresponsible after overwhelming evidence is presented is something that is harsh and needs apologizing for, I don't know what to say, and I don't know why you think that's a partisan issue.

Again, Dantona's financial problems extend back decades. How do you explain away that?

Why do you suppose the Star endosed Lunn?

Mr. Ingemunson - do you know what events led up to Mr. Dantona's personal financial troubles from "decades ago?" And is it ultimately your business or anyone else's? You say yes because he is a candidate and I say no because these were personal issues, unrelated to his work in government.

I contend that you throw around the word "irresponsibility" a bit too freely despite the fact that you know nothing about these events that led up to the most difficult times in Mr. Dantona's life - those ultimately resulting in filing for bankruptcy.

Mr. Dantona surprised us all by freely telling the voters of his bankruptcies in his 2006 campaign. I have never seen any candidate do such a thing.

As myself and others have stated on this and Brian Dennert's blog - if you truly believe "multiple tax liens and court judgments" are fair game for all candidates, then you would fairly address Supervisor Peter Foy's escapades that began as early as 1979 and continued as recently as 2006, including one default of nearly $100,000.00.

To quote you again "How do you explain away that?"

But it is only fair game against Dantona, correct?

And did you ask the same questions of the Star when they endorsed Mr. Dantona vs. Peter Foy 4 years ago? Your implication is that it was the financial issues above that resulted in Lunn's County Clerk endorsement, despite the fact that the Star clearly stated "Two well-qualified candidates are seeking the office."

If that were the case, they would not have endorsed Peter Foy this year. Mr. Foy's public records of "multiple tax liens and court judgments filed against him" are available at Superior Courts in at least 3 different counties, as well as business forfeitures in several states and (your own favorite) the Secretary of State. And by the way, I am well aware, as are you, that Mr. Foy, like Mr. Dantona is in good standing with the Secretary of State's office.

I contend that Mr. Dantona's story is not one of irresponsibility, but an all-too-human American success story with realistic highs and lows. Not the neat little rags to riches stories with which we have been indoctrinated, but rather one of an individual who has rebuilt himself many times. An individual that I can personally attest is probably guilty of being such a strong caretaker for his family and friends (including Barbra Williamson) and an active supporter of philanthropic activities in his community and across the country (particularly those involving children), that he sometimes looked beyond his own personal needs.

Mr. Ingemunson - if more individuals took on the responsibility of looking after their family, their friends and their community as Mr. Dantona has demonstrated the unrelenting ability to do during the same decades of "irresponsibility" in question, there would be little need for the big government programs that so many of us decry. Instead individuals, families and communities would reach out and help their own as Mr. Dantona ahs done, and continues to do to this day.

No, Mr. Dantona is certainly not the superhero that the media demands our political leaders be (before they rip them apart under the microscope). He is a man. And given the qualities I have witnessed first-hand, I'll take that kind of man as a candidate, and a friend, any day of the week.

I hope this helps you to know, and perhaps understand, Mr. Dantona a little better.

For the record, fairweather, in '06 Dantona never said a word about his finances until it was brought up in the campaign.

Next in '06 he blamed his problems on his sick ex-wife. Now it's his sick father. It's going to be interesting to see what sick relative he comes up with to explain his continuing problems when he runs for whatever his next campaign will be.

I just received a piece of mail from Mark Lunn and on it he's endorsed by another high level Democrat, Malibu Mayor Barovsky, who apparently worked with Dantona in Malibu. It seems that was enough for her. She came up the coast, out of her county, to make sure that Ventura County doesn't make the same mistake Malibu did and hire Dantona.

Mark Lunn is the ONLY CHOICE for Ventura County Clerk.

Correction, Dantona is the ONLY CHOICE for Ventura County Clerk.

Voter - you are 100% incorrect as usual regarding his bankruptcies. But when have facts ever mattered to you?

Having known and worked with Mr. Dantona for many years, I know for a fact he has dealt with a series of serious family medical issues over the last two decades. If you had ever encountered the same - (or if you weren't so hateful of Mr. Dantona) - you would not be so cavalier.

Country Club Mayor Barovsky is anything but a high-level Democrat. But she is guilty of breach of contract... a disgruntled former employee - again from decades ago. Does the entire Lunn campaign revel in ancient history?

It should be noted that several former officers who worked under Mr. Lunn have come forth to offer their support to Mr. Dantona's campaign as well. It seems Mr. Lunn is guilty of a few human indiscretions himself and has his own disgruntled former employees. But the blue code of silence forbids them from pimping themselves as media-seeking mayors are apt to do.

Finally, Mr. Dantona's financial matters are public information from which he has never hidden. When will any of you hold the ultra-secretive Peter Foy to the same financial standards.

That is a rhetorical question of course...

It seems that facts elude you, Fair. A quick check of the Secretary of States lobbyist reports shows Dantona worked for the City of Malibu, which is no doubt where Mayor Barovsky came to form the very opinion that resulted in the endorsement of Mark Lunn.

Mark Lunn is the only candidate with wide and deep support from both Democrats, Republicans and DTS voters.

Also Mark Lunn is the only candidate with support from both Democrat and Republican leaders in the county.

I can't believe the blatant, back street attacks that I seem to keep reading in many article blogs like this one. Has the political process fell so low as to engender such vicious diatribe from educated "in the know" political savy spokepersons? I'm astonished!! I've only heard one candidate talk about his plans for the office, and that was Dantona. Mr. Lunn & company, seem to center in, out of desperation, on terrible financial indiscretions of Dantona, all of which were rectified soon after. As soon as another blogger mentions the fact that Lunn's boss, honorable "farmer" Foy has had similar or worse financial misgivings, then the subject quickly changes. How interesting is that?
I believe in reality that we do have 2 responsible, credible candidates here from different backgrounds. Both have integrity, though achieved in different ways; and both may represent Ventura County as good Clerk Recorders. The difference is in what they want to accomplish. Dantona is pretty up front with his goals. He makes it very clear where he believes the office misgivings are. He wants to fix them; and please don't insult me by stating they aren't broken. Grand Jury investigations don't occur for trivial reasons. Dantona has from most accounts been very active in community projects for most of his life. He's been awarded and applauded for his selfless, caring involvement by conservatives and liberals alike and his charity work is unsurpassed in Ventura County. Would someone like to tell me what Mr. Lunn has done for the community, other than his career as a law enforcement officer (which I applaud and commend)? He works as chief of staff for Mr. Foy. Exactly what has he or they accomplished in the past 4 years that's truly notable? I hope there is alot, because I'd hate to think that an $80,000 tax paid salary has been wasted.
Bottom line is, he receives a very large pension from honorable service rendered, but assists and even attacks those who are on their way to receiving the same type of pension. How can a person of integrity take so much money, yet kick those that want the same pension rights. I myself have never met anyone that earns a tax paid $120,000 pension at age 55. Couple that with the $80,000 for who knows what, and the extra pocket cash for meeting occassionally on a planning board, I'd say that say's it all. Please stick to accomplishments and not past history. That's what a politcal campaign should be about. I'll vote for Dantona simply because he has clearly stated goals and will do something right.

Well Totally,

Nice typing, your name is well chosen because what you've said is totally astonishing.

You start out talking about all the attacks and how bad they are right before engaging in one on Foy.

But to cut to the chase, you ask what had Mark Lunn done in the last four years. The answer is simple, he has served the people of the 4th District.

Here's a question for you: What has Dantona done with his entire life?

Bagman for Robertti & Gray Davis and a failed lobbyist, leaving behind a trail of unpaid bills, fines and broken promises. There's a record to base a campaign on.

Eric,

Someone has made serious allegations that Peter Foy has major financial issues in his past. Are you going to look into it and post an entry if it is correct or clear Peter Foy's name?

I just countered your provoking financial attacks on Dantona with a few Foy follies, which you refuse to address, knowing they are true. Back to the real campaign question. What exactly do you mean by serve? Seems like constituents should deserve something more than service for 80 grand. I ask again...tell me what accomplishments the Supervisor and staff (Mr. Lunn) have made. List them... We elect people in this country based on accomplishments and on plans for improvement, not on status quo, poor performance agendas that have harmed our community. As a conservative I'm worried that politicians continue to point fingers and sling mud, rather than plan strategies and design improvements. Good conservatives shouldn't use tactics like that. I congratulate Mr. Dantona on his efforts and ability to pull himself up out of the mud where you want him to be. I'll be in line June 8th to help that become a reality

Brian,

Although I don't see what Foy's financial history has to do with a campaign between Jim Dantona and Mark Lunn, other than to try to distract from the issue at hand, but I think you're right...

We should BOTH thoroughly investigate financial irregularities. I want to see you post a hard-hitting assessment of Dantona's financial history, and I'll do the same for Foy. I know you wouldn't want me to pull any punches in my post, so I'll expect that you'll hold yourself to the same standard. Deal?

(crickets chirping)

Dantona's supporters keep trying to bring up accusations against Peter Foy, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with his current campaign against Mark Lunn. Perhaps Dantona would be better served by focusing on his current opponent instead of the guy who defeated him four years ago. If Dantona is that bitter about the past then he should be running against Foy instead of Lunn.

And Brian Dennert needs to try a little harder to hide his pro-Dantona bias. If he is going to demand a review of Foy's financial history then he should be prepared to do the same for Dantona. I'd be happy to see a review of BOTH Foy's and Dantona's finances. Let's see if Brian actually has the guts to practice what he preaches.

I believe Eric picked the fight. Blaming Brian Dennert for it is cowardice. Let him do his own homework. He has given a "pass" to Foy but publicly blasts Dantona and brings his big sister (and flavor of the month) Barbra into the battle to fight for him.

When his own bias propaganda machine can be honest about tax-dodger Peter Foy's 30 years of financial fiascoes, I'll respect him. Until then - his political gimmickry is as transparent as the public records that show both men have had financial issues.

It isn't about the race for County Clerk, kids. It is about "explaining away" a sitting Republican Supervisor's history by changing focus to Brian Dennert, while continuing to hammer away at the upstart Democratic challenge to Republican Big Boss politics.

Jim has always supported my fundraisers. If he couldn't be there he always mailed a check. He has never failed to make good on his donations.

Good to know, Gene, Thanks for the input.