Voters in Ventura County might be a little confused as to where their district attorney stands in the hotly contested 19th District Senate race. Greg Totten has endorsed Republican Tony Strickland and provided favorable statements for Strickland to use in campaign mailers. But Totten now also appears in a mailer sent out by Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson -- in which he offers glowing words about her.

The Jackson mailer includes excerpts from a letter sent to her by the local DA at or near the end of her three terms in the Assembly.

"I am very grateful for your outstanding efforts on behalf of this office in successfully advancing important policy changes for crimes involving domestic violence and drunk driving," the letter says. "You have been a great advocate for crime victims and law enforcement."

When I asked Totten about his endorsement last week, he said has known Strickland since he was working for the state DA's association and Strickland was a very young legislative aide in the Capitol. Strickland, he said, has always been a supporter of not only tough-on-crime bills but also for law enforcement funding. As for Jackson, he acknowledged that she carried successful legislation sponsored by his office. "I have nothing bad to say about her," he said.

Perhaps Totten is the only politician in Ventura County who can win -- or lose -- either way in this campaign.