Close to 400 people turned out last night to offer good wishes to one of the old hands of Democratic politics in Ventura County, the retiring head of the local Laborers International Union local 585, Leo Valenzuela.

Leo and his wife Marilyn, head of the the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council, have worked the political trenches for years, organizing precinct walking, phone banks and "labor-to-labor" outreach to union families on behalf of Democratic candidates and union-backed ballot measures. Many of the beneficiaries of those efforts turned out to say thanks.

Among those in attendance Saturday at Oxnard's Embassy Suites Resort were Assemblyman Pedro Nava, Supervisor John Zaragoza, former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, Supervisor Kathy Long, Oxnard City Councilman Andres Herrera , former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Susan Rose, Port Hueneme Mayor Jon Sharkey and Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera.

Also paying his respects was Republican District Attorney Greg Totten -- whose appearance reflected the labor and Democratic support that fell his way in his initial, brutal campaign for DA.

By far, the most enthusiastic reception for the political officials was for Zaragoza, fresh off his hard-fought win in the supervisor's race.