The "Target Book," a respected newsletter on California politics that examines the dynamics of all legislative and congressional districts in the state, has come out with its initial lists of what it anticipates will be targeted districts in 2010.

It identifies 13 such Assembly districts, and two of them include portions of Ventura County. One is the 37th District, which will be an open seat because incumbent Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, is termed out. Strickland herself was targeted by Democrats in 2008, and was re-elected by just a 4 percentage-point margin. The other is the 38th District, where incumbent Republican Cameron Smyth of Santa Clarita will be seeking his third term in the district that includes much of Simi Valley. Smyth's re-election margin in 2008 was 10 percentage points.

These things change, depending on the strengths of each party's candidates and other dynamics as the campaigns evolve. But coming out of the box, it appears that there could be some political action in store in Ventura County a year from now.