Well that was a BS article. Alger hardly got a mention and he is the way front-runner. Gotta love how Smyth downplays his stance on abortion while he is the idiot that makes it an issue on his website.

A bunch of leftist Democrats telling anyone who is polite enough to listen that they can this election.

The truth is that even if it was possible for a Democrat to win this seat, it would take a much stronger candidate than any of these gadflies to do it. Not one of them has enough support to have raised enough money to send out even one mailer to the voters.

Dennert is right: Smyth will have to kill someone on camera to lose this race.

Jake, are there other issues besides abortion that are important? Because regardless of a person's feelings being pro-choice as your number one issue in Simi Valley is not going to shake up the race.

jake- it's simply not true that cameron makes abortion an issue on his web site, nor is it polite to call him an "idiot" simply because he does not share your radical left-wing view on the issue. he merely lists "pro-life" in a laundry lists of his positions.

you should step in to the no spin zone

Here is the URL and link.

http://www.votesmyth.com/issues.htm

First of all, keeping government out of my life (or wife) isn't a "radical left wing view". Forcing your idea of morality on me is not democratic at all. It's kind of Stalinesque.

He is an idiot. He "supports the 2nd ammendment". How is that for saying NOTHING. Alger made a point of that last week when he said "I choose to support the entire document but hey, that's just me".

Smyth is making his issues Anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-choice but pro-development, pro-landfill and pro-big oil.

And you don't think this guy is vulnerable?

Alger has already done 3 mailers so not sure what your thinking there.

Jim Alger is clearly taunting well-meaning religious people's pro-life opinions in the 38th during holy week.

He clearly can't be an assemblyman for all the people of our district.

I wonder if he planned his pro-abortion press release to coincide with the most holy week in the christian religion.

I thought it was inappropriate to play that card this week. I question his judgment and his motives.

I think Alger needs to apologize to the public for this stunt. He shouldn't politicize religion just so he can sound more liberal than anyone else, especially this week.

Happy Easter!!!

3 mailers......this keeps getting better and better. First, Alger conducts some crack poll which gives him higher name ID in the SFV than any of its elected officials, including the Mayor. Now they claim to have already sent out 3 mailers. All this was done with less than $3,000 in his campaign account.

What a joke.

Is Alger against the 2nd amendment?

Alger played the abortion card because he has no record at all to speak of.

Well Jim, open mic night is almost over for your campaign.

Here's the deal.

Voters want someone with REAL elected experience in the legislature. Pretenders need not apply.

Alger wouldn't know where the bathroom was in Sacramento. How much money did the state party give him to run this race? I'll bet he's not even a priority...

Why would voters want to send a guy who isn't a priority with his own party to Sacramento to represent us?

If his own party doesn't take him seriously why should the voters?

I agree Jordan. For once and only once, the voters of the 38th should follow the lead of the state democratic party and write Jim Alger off. He's a nobody...

Well it is nice to see all the bashing of Alger has spread from other blogs to this one. He must be doing something right.

For starters if anyone thinks he does anything to target someone's relegious beliefs then you radar needs some serious recalibration. His press release was in direct response to Barbara Boxer introducing a measure in the Senate and his release supported that bill, period.

Jim believes in the seperation of Church and State, those that don't will not vote for him anyway. Those that insist on judging others, and forcing their will upon others won't vote for him either. BUT, those that care about landfills, those that care about safe streets, those that care about deciding what gets built in our community WILL vote for him. Before you judge him I ask you to do 2 things...

1st- Don't assume motive for anything, you'll probably be wrong anyway

2nd- LISTEN to what he says before you judge him.

The party doesn't take many races seriously, the 37th an 38th are two local races, along with the 24th and 25th Congressional District. When you berate one person for "not having party support, you berate them all. The party isn't supporting ANY Democratic Candidate in the 38th until after the primary.

Oh and look, I can log on as two different people and answer my own post as well

ETHAN AND JORDAN.

You boys are pathetic. Oh and one more thing, Smyth doesn't have the endorsement of his party either... he must be a joke as well right?

Just a FEW of Jim Alger's accomplishments:

- Elected Neighborhood Council member/President

- Commissioner appointed by Mayor Hahn to Green Ribbon Commission

- Represented the community of North Hills against the LAUSD to prevent the use of eminant domain to take private homes

- Organized the LA Neighborhood Council system to prevent an 18% water rate hike

- Organized the community and opposed the construction of a 3rd wal mart in the Northridge area based on community concerns over traffic

- Opposed the Sunshine Canyon landfill

- Served as s Field Representative for the California State Senate

- Elected Senator to the LANC Congress

- Flew his private aircraft to organize a civillian rescue operation in Biloxi MS after Hurricane Katrina

- Fosters rescued dogs from the shelter

- Member of "Angel Flight" a group that provides free flights to sick children who need medical care

- Named "Outstanding Young Californian" for 2006 by the California Jaycees

So, before you beat the hell out of the guy, get to know him ok. Oh, and for those who may be wondering since religion was brought up... Jim is Roman Catholic.

Jim has his own plane? Can he self fund the race and give Smyth a run for his money?

How does one get elected to a neighborhood council?

Mike,

Accomplishments.....That's the best you can do?? Let me add a few more:

convicted of a felony

failed businessperson

remains in Chapter 13 bankrupcy

unemployed

Slander is a very bad move my friend. Jim does NOT stand convicted of any felony. What you refer to is a dismissed charge of incorrectly filling out a Drivers License application 10 years ago. A charge that was dismissed in the interest of justice.

Always very sad when your opponent can't find one single accomplishment in their career so they return to mud slinging and misinformation.

What is even more interesting is when they resort to taking Jim's history, that he released months ago, and try to use some incident from 10 years ago to erase all the good he has done since.

His bankruptcy came out of a lawsuit stemming from a dispute with an insurance company that didn't cover an airplane accident. His chapter 13 is a 100% repayment plan. I am glad your life has been so perfect as to have never faced adversity.

Maybe on one of these posts instead of attacking Jim you will state what your candidate stands for. We are still waiting.

Question 13,

The Los Angeles Neighborhood Council System mandates that public elections are held to elect Counclmember to the Neighborhood Council System.

Constituencies generally range from 20,000 to 100,000 depending on the district. Jim's district is just over 21,000. In the last election, he took 78% of the vote.

In his term as Neighborhood Council President, he has had several public clashes with City Councilman Greig Smith who doesn't appreciate Jim holding his feet to the fire in the district. Smith and his staff support Smyth and his staff contributes to Smyth's campaign. They have also been engaging in a as of yet failed smear campaign (ie "Mark" above) on various blogs accusing Jim of everything under the sun while offering no alternative for the Democratic Nomination.

When all else failed, his detractors resorted to attacking his wife.

This crew doesn't want to talk about Local Control over Land Use, landfills, Universal healthcare or higher energy standards in California because Smyth has received nearly 95% of his cash from developers, land fill operators, oil companies and the pharmaceutical industry.

That is what the race post June 6th is going to be all about. They don't want that so they will simply attack.

What they don't understand that these attacks only strengthen his resolve. Must be the New Yorker in him.

Does that mean he got more votes than Smyth did in the last election?

Doubt it. NC Turnout is considerably less.

In my opinion there are a few reasons why Alger can win the 38th

1 - Rising gas prices compared to Smyth working for big oil

2 - Smyth has allowed unchecked development in Santa Clarita vs Alger who's main point is all about local control

3 - Smyth makes issues out of immigration, gay marriage and freedom of choice then denies making an issue out of it so he runs away from his own issues

4 - The Republican Party is melting down from the top down.

Kim, why do you say he works for big oil? You also say he supported growth in Santa Clarita and that Jim Alger would support local control.

Wouldn't Smyth as MAYOR be the ultimate example of local control?

Where does it say Smyth works for Big Oil?? Regardless, at least Smyth, Gold, Lowenthal, Barrientos and Lyn have jobs which is more than Alger can claim.

Julie--

Where does Jim Alger currently work?

Is he even paying taxes into our current economy?

If he isn't working, how can we be assured he's running for the right reasons?

Running for office shouldn't be a jobs program for the unemployed, it's about protecting hardworkers keep more of their own money.

No wonder he wants universal health care, if he doesn't work and pay taxes, he won't have to pay the bills...

We will.

Ethan, for one to be pro-life that would define abortion as murder, yes?

If so, has Cameron Smyth spoke out about murder of the unborn during holy week? I would think that would be the moral duty of every pro-life person to speak out against the murdering of the unborn at every available moment. If not, that is pretty shameful.

By the way, since you are so devout, could you provide a link to the Church you attend so we can preach the message of the G-D to all? Remember, Thou shall not bear false witness.

I don't really expect you to answer these questions, but I would be impressed if you did.

As "Ethan" knows, Jim Alger left his job with the California State Senate to run for office. Before his employment with the Senate he ran a small business that went under after 9/11. But he knows all this because he has been blogging about it on the LA Blog for months.

He just figures he has fresh meat here.

Jim Alger is the only person who cares enough about the district to even run a campaign. He is the only candidate who even has a website for pete sake.

Jim has been to Simi Valley on countless occasions and has a long history of working for the people. To act as if someone would put themselves and their family through the relentless attacks of imbeciles like "Ethan" just to get a job is beyond ludicrous.

Too bad out politicians don't wait until their job is done before running for the next one.

Oh, and Mr. Smyth is a daddy's boy and spokesperson for SHELL OIL. At least google him before you show your righteous indignation.

I can tell you, as someone who works on the campaign, Jim Alger just wrote a check to the IRS for another 2 grand yesterday. So enough with the veiled accusations.

How about telling us where your invisible candidate feels about oh let's say landfills. That is becoming a hot topic in Simi. Jim Alger has said he will fight to get landfills out of urban residential areas.

A question was asked about Smyth as Mayor and local control. First of all let us understand Smyth's job as City Councilman is a part time job. The Santa Clarita City Council rotates out their Mayor and he isn't much more than a figurehead because the City is run by a Manager.

As Mayor, and City Councilman, he has allowed unchecked development all across Santa Clarita. He has shown no leadership whatsoever to allow local communities to decide what gets built in their backyard.

He has accepted most of his money from builders, contractors, oil companies and the pharmaceutical industry.

Oh and let's respond to the ridiculous claim about Alger and Health Care... Alger has health insurance. When he fights for Universal Healthcare it is because he has seen first hand what the cost of healthcare has done to his elderly parents.

Can we quit the attacks and talk about policy? Or is your candidate such an empty suit you have nothing "Ethan"?

I think Alarcon's office may disagree, but that is no surprise to anyone who has dealt with Jim Alger. Besides if he was really serious about repaying his creditors from the bankruptcy, he would not decide to leave a job that could help repay his debt?

Of course it has been 5 years since the judgement and people are still waiting to be paid.

Not Ethan:

You sure know alot about this guy. Have you been following his politics for years?

No not Ethan, he doesn't know anything.

Jim makes payments EVERY MONTH to the Bankruptcy court as he is required to do to pay 100% of his debt. But this guy wants everyone to talk about this instead of ANY issues of the District.

Notice they offer no plan, no ideas and not even another candidate... Just attacks.

Mike is right. I have heard more about Jim Alger's finances then I have about traffic. Hopefully some of the attack machines that have set their sights on him will move onto traffic.

I agree. I have been involved in Simi Valley politics for some years now and what I have learned is that the attack machines are usually afraid they are going to lose on merits.

I personally don't care about traffic that much as I don't leave Simi that often but I want to know more about that landfill.

I have started to see some Alger signs popping up is there even anyone else running?

Nobody worth talking about, or should I say nobody who has seen fit to talk to us here in Simi.

I am sure I'll get a mailer or two a week before the election from a candidate who thinks I am a zombie.

Jim has thought enough of Simi Valley to come here repeatedly. I met him when he knocked on my door. The only Democrat to do so.

Jenna, you did see the LA Beat article that i was quoted in, yes? I don't have much doubt that Alger will win Simi Valley and will win the whole primary. I hope he can focus his message on issues relevant to the problems most voters are facing.

Brian... The article wasn't about you. Give your ego a rest.

Ken, thanks for the kind words. If you are talking about the last post ( Did you see the article I was quoted in) it was to back up the opinion that Jim Alger is the only Democratic candidate campaigning in Simi Valley.

I live at 44035 Commonwealth in Seattle. Been up here before?