Click on continue reading for details.

Looks like someone is looking to run for mayor against Paul Miller in Simi Valley. Check back for details.

UPDATE: Here is a Craigslist.org ad for paid positions working on the campaign.

More information to come soon.

UPDATE 2: I have communicated with the candidate and they said they haven't done anything official yet but in a few weeks I can get the exclusive if I don't post their name. Check back in a few weeks. In the meantime, what issues do you think a successful challenger would run on? I think there is a consensus that Paul Miller would be tough to beat. Any suggestions? How many of you would vote for him if you could? Anyone looking for a change at city hall?

Have you seen or heard about the Obama Girl video hosted on youtube? It has been around since June 13, 2007. Funny enough there wasn't many pundits predicting he would have a serious chance at the nomination back then.

Click here to play the version with subtitled lyrics.

Anyways, I know John McCain's ads are placed using key words but it is funny where his ads keep popping up. He really is going negative early in this election. An attack ad placed on a comedy video? Seems like they don't have a sense of humor. It would be like running a negative ad when the other candidate is on SNL or The Daily Show.

Here is another John McCain ad:

Again, I know his campaign is using key words to place ads. But that being said they should be embarrassed to be running an attack ad on a sleazy website devoted to spreading lies. Barack Obama is a committed Christian. Only the most politically ignorant think he is a Muslim. It has been debunked in so many ways already.

McCain understands what it is like to be smeared by political opponents. I have seen all sorts of trash about him including that he betrayed other POW's when he returned home and of course the dirty attacks from Bush supporters in 2000 before the South Carolina primary.

It is time John McCain's campaign gets an intern to check where their web ads are being placed.

If you see any funny online advertising send me a link.

The title lobbyist is up there with trial lawyer, tobacco company, and oil company CEO in popularity but to be fair as a journalist I am asking for your input.

What exactly defines what is a lobbyist?

This isn't about Jim Dantona but would you define his company as a lobbying firm? Look over their website and let me know.

Please don't try to turn this into a discussion about Jim Dantona. I am just asking for help with basic definitions for an unrelated story. I will delete off topic comments.

Thanks for your help.

Did anyone notice the Barack Obama ad on my blog? I was surprised to see it. I don't deal with advertising and I haven't asked The Star staff how online ads are placed. I do know that many ads are placed by a larger company, like google, and they are placed based off of key words on a blog.

I was very flattered that my blog attracted enough attention to get an ad from a presidential campaign. Both of the campaigns seem to be advertising all over the internet.

The ad uses a widget that displays current news stories from the campaign. Funny enough I have ran this widget for free!

Here it is again:

Side note: How many of you play poker? I am thinking of hosting a Dennert blog readers online tournament. The only thing wagered would be pride. No money is at stake.

C'mon liberals. You know you want to beat Flamo at something.

What about CAP V Bubba Kidd?

Brian Dennert V Flap?

In the comments on other entries people are debating if the 4th of July is a liberal or conservative holiday.

I don't feel like debating that myself but it caused me to reflect on what freedom means.

I know most of us have heard so many cliche sayings around the holidays that I often hesitate to say anything thinking that I don't have much to add that hasn't been said.

But tonight as I watched the fireworks with family I felt like I should say something about what living in America means to me to a little loved one.

In America you are free to love the person of your dreams. Race, class, gender, and religion do not legally restrict people nor do people need to live in constant fear because of their love. Our government is empowered to protect our rights.

Countless generations of people have lived their whole life without this freedom. Sure, you might have been with the same person if you were restricted from loving another but it is hard to say with absolute certainty where the heart may have brought freedom to love.

With all of the freedom our nation offers us I am in love with the person that was made for me. That is a blessing.

In the natural rights all of us are born with love is included.

Happy Independence Day.

Thank you to all of those that protect our freedoms.

What comes to mind on the fourth to you?

( The video is back from the archives but I figured with the election announcements it is timely again.)

There are two seats up for election this November on the Simi Valley City Council. The incumbents include Barbra Williamson and Steve Sojka.

Barbra Williamson just emailed me her press release announcing she is going to run again. To read through the entire statement click on continue reading.

That is a great thing about blogs. I am not limited by space. When you see the news in the paper in a few days it will take a couple of quotes and that is about it.

In the past Barbra Williamson has come on here and taken questions from readers. Thank you for doing that Barbra.

No word yet on if Steve Sojka will run again. I will keep you posted. Have you heard anything?

So, what do you think the top issues in this campaign will be if there is a real contest.

The top issue I think will be the proposed expansion of the landfill.

I already started a discussion on term limits for county supervisors so I figured we would look at Fillmore's growth control measure.

I hesitate to tell the people of Fillmore what to do with their own town especially when I don't know all the facts about the proposed homes and their potential impact on the current homes. If you have a strong opinion on the Fillmore development issue please share it. Otherwise, I won't be another outsider telling the people of Fillmore what is best for them. I don't have a political agenda to impose on them without regard of the facts there.

But the initiative does bring up larger philosophical issues.

How should the growth of a town be governed?

I assume that most people want a mixture of free market economics and either direct or indirect democracy making the choices.

The real question is between the two decision making tools which way do you lean?

( Have you ever seen a strange person speak at a city council meeting? I bet it doesn't beat this guy! What is the oddest thing you have ever seen at a council meeting?)

It seems that as a city grows free market economics gives way to more democratic controls. The problems that a large city faces seems to convince people that their problems could be addressed by more government control. This includes congestion ricing, zoning, urban growth boundaries, setting up neighborhoods based off of government priorities or choices, and efforts to increase the tax base.

Recently, in Simi Valley our city council moved to limit the ability of new self storage businesses to open. The idea being that self storage businesses don't provide enough jobs.

As cities grow do they become more likely to support democratic control over growth and zoning choices?

Do market orientated towns grow into smart growth strongholds?

What does Fillmore need more homes for anyways? I thought they made their money off of selling fireworks. It is a pilgrimage site for the pyros amongst us. Today, like almost every July 3rd, I bet the traffic from Simi Valley to Fillmore is up by at least two fold.

If you leave a comment about purchasing fireworks there your IP address is safe with me. I do not share IP address with other Star blogs. Admit it. You really enjoy Filmore this time of year and it isn't for the Dept. of Fish and Game fish hatchery. Before people start complaining I know the money goes towards many charities. But I have a serious question. Do they fireworks go on sale this Saturday?

Just wondering. For a friend.

Hey,

I have a ballot initiative for the local area that I am thinking about putting together for November.

Anyone know how to do it?

Leave me some tips and links.

Looks like the process to replace outgoing Superintendent of county schools Charles Weis might take some time. Here are my quick thoughts on the replacing him, the county board of education, and the recent articles about Charles Weis.

1. It is true that most incumbents win election or reelection when they choose to run again. That means that if the person who replaces Charles Weis plans to run after this term ends in 2010 they will have a significant advantage and will likely win.

Being that Charles Weis was appointed and then ran again do you agree with me it is a problem when there are very little open seat elections?

If you have been paying attention to county politics long enough when was the last competitive election for county superintendent? When was the last open seat election?

Of course, many people appointed to an open seat go on to serve the public in great ways. I am not denying that they have good intentions and frequently great outcomes.

But in a democracy people should choose their leaders.

What could be done to fix this problem?

2. None of the articles I saw have the details of Charles Weis's new compensation package. That is sure to upset my reader Andy Levinson. Maybe it is because his new employer is out of this area and makes it less news worthy?

3. Do you remember the governor's push to eliminate the county boards across California to save money? Do you think we will see such a push again anytime soon? Do you favor eliminating the county boards?

4. Not many people can explain the policy portfolios of the county board of education. Is this a problem? Voters are often educated during election about the functions of government positions they are voting on. Maybe more competitive elections could help out with this ignorance. There is a move to recruit candidates for this November to run. Do you know anything about it?

5. But for the people that use the county services this board is critical. Do the stake holders think they could be better served by local school districts? What do you think Donna Prenta? You seem to understand the county board better than most of the people that comment here, myself included.

6. Do you think there should be term limits for the county superintendent or the board members? How much exactly do they get paid? How can I check the figures? Citizens would be better served if this information was easy to access online/

7. Two of the current board members are on their party's central committee and a third is a political activist. Do you think the next Superintendent will be free from being involved in partisan politics?

8. You can apply online for the job. Anybody planning on doing it? Have you seen any names being mentioned for the position?

9. I am impressed that even with all of their disagreements between the board and the superintendent they were able to keep their working relationship professional. Grudges are so easy to keep it impresses me when people keep to Reagan's maxim:

• "I always throw my golf club in the direction I'm going."

Does it further your interests to stay angry? If not, move on.

10. That's it but I didn't want to stop a list at #9. What are your thoughts on these issues?

I have heard that Peter Foy is serious about not running for reelection to the board of supervisors. In his first election he claimed to be a farmer/business person. It is fun to tease him for that ballot designation but it turned out to be much smarter than the choices candidates for the Democratic nomination in the 24th congressional district made.

Recently, Peter Foy has joined up with a lower tax and smaller government group which doesn't believe government should take steps to fight global warming because it would result in higher taxes or more regulations. It seems the issues he is most interested in are dealt with at higher levels of government. But don't let that make you think he isn't interested in altering local government.

County Supervisor Peter Foy has delivered on a campaign issue to put term limits on the agenda for county supervisors.

According to this Star article it will limit supervisors to three consecutive terms. Someone could then take a term off and then run again.

None of the current supervisors could be forced from office before 2020.

How do you plan to vote on this initiative?

Being that the only competitive elections seem to be when there is an open seat I would think this would create more competitive elections locally. 12 years is a long time to be on a board especially when you consider state legislators get either six years ( state assembly) or 8 years ( state senate). I am at this point inclined to vote in favor of it.

Of course, it is true that long time incumbent supervisor Judy Mikels was defeated but that seems to be the perfect storm of three candidates with access to money and endorsements coming together from across the ideological spectrum to box her into a hard to defend position. Combine that with her unpopular support for local developments and it becomes something I don't expect to see often.

If you support term limits for county supervisor do you also support them for other offices like school boards and city councils?

Looks like the state government outlawed talking with a phone to your ear while driving.

But texting while driving remains legal.

Also, you can use speaker phone on your cell to avoid buying a new device.

What do you think of the new laws?