I still haven't gotten any e-mails from other campaigns. I will post them as they are sent in.

Mr. Flynn is the citizen's only way of getting the straight truth about what's going on with the County of Ventura. The County is being challenged with the State's financial problems and we are losing our CEO. We need John Flynn's experience now more than ever.

Since the paper isn't giving the race any time, looks like Denis will. Good for him.

Brian,

Thank you for bringing our Fifth District County
issues to our community. I am surprised that the one
reader believes that we need 4 more years of
"experience" from a man who has looked at unpaved
streets, and poor drainage in our neighborhoods for 32
years.

I hope to bring Oxnard and the Fifth District up to
the standards that most in Ventura County enjoy.

It's time for positive change!

www.denis4supervisor.com

Does this guy realize what he's up against, taking on John Flynn in the 5th District? I heard John Zaragoza is in this race too. Two pretty formidable opponents, if you ask me.

I once had a "letter to the editor" feud with Mr. O'Leary some years back over bi-lingual education. He strongly favored it, where I favored (and still favor) English immersion and strong ESL - English as a Second Language - classes.
I am bilingual, and majored in ESL/Bilingual Education in college. I observed both kinds of classes and tutored immigrants. ESL is the more practical, cost effective approach in a multi-lingual community such as Oxnard. Getting the kids up to speed in English so that they can compete for slots in college and in the job market is a service to our children.

P.S. We have 4 votes in the 5th district at my house.

Leslie,
Great to keep the debate going. English as a Second Language is effective. When ESL is used with first language instruction while the child is on the way to be English fluent, everyone wins. Yes, its been 10 years since we debated Prop. 227, and today we still have children who are taking 5 to 7 years to become English fluent while they are being instructed in English immersion classes.

I hope we can agree that we must look at each and every possibility that can be taken to improve the education of our students.

I am running for County Supervisor because as a District we seem to be supporting the longevity of our representative more than improving the living conditions of those who live in the district. I want to put the focus back on the needs of the people who live in the Fifth District. Many say that it will be difficult, but it can be done.

Por qué no enseña los niños En español hasta que ellos aprendan inglés? Por qué hace esto tenga que ser un asunto de politcal?

Denis, I think bilingual education sends the wrong message to Spanish-speaking students who we are trying to educate and prepare for the real world. Part of the problem is many of these kids' parents have lived in this country for many years and have refused to learn the English language. This is fine if you want to continue working at menial jobs and not make an effort to improve your quality of life and that of your children, but if you want to advance in American society and wish to give your kids a chance at the same, you need to learn English.

Thank you. Yes, the students do learn English and yes they will learn in English. English is also the language that 100% of the students who graduate from High School.

Academic knowledge is what will bring our community out of menial jobs. Academic knowledge can be gained in any language and transferred to English when the student becomes English fluent. English only speaking persons also work at menial jobs. Our duty is to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to their best extent to our society. English language is the starting line. Academic ability brings the person to their full potential.

Now lets repair our infrastructure. Street lighting, poor drainage, unpaved streets, a harbor that is losing to dry rot, an entire community that still needs to be connected to a sewer line...

I am ready to work to bring the Fifth District to the standards expected by most who live in Ventura County. The saga of infighting in our County Board of Supervisors has only left the Fifth District behind. We can expect better. We can do better. Its time for positive change.

Nobody - Estaba hablando de mi contacto historica con el candidato, y la diferencia en opinion acerca de las prioridades de educacion.

Quiero saber si eso fue un ejemplo de la manera de pensar del senor O'Leary. Sera un lider practico? o un lider con suenos que cuestan mucho dinero?

Mongo- I do not blame the immigrant parents for not learning English well, because many are working long hours just to keep the home and food on the table. Learning languages as adults is much harder and time-consuming and also takes the parents away from the kids for more hours. But the schools should put the resources into the most practical skills that will aid immigrant children, and that means ESL and English immersion. That does not mean that we should be culturally insensitive in the process, or not have bilingual employess that can help bridge the communication gaps and for the kids and parents.

District 5 is culturally rich, not just with Hispanics, but with a large Asian and African American population as well, and in many ways is quite sophisticated in it's world view. It frustrates me that it seems to get less respect than other districts.

Let's not forget also that a significant percentage of Hispanics living in District 5 are here illegally, but I guess we're not supposed to talk about that, are we?

Until and unless the federal government does it's job and passes comprehensive immigration reform WITH enforcement, all cities in the nation (Omaha, Kona, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Raleigh... yes and Oxnard) will continue to struggle to provide services, emergency health care and education to all their residents with limited resources.
To do less is short-sighted, if not inhumane.

Denis,
As you know being a supervisor requires a person to wear many many hats. There is County Counsel, County Executive Office,
General services, the Harbor, Health Care, Human
Services, Information Systems, Farm and Home Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Agriculture, Commissioner, Fire Protection
District, Airports, Animal Regulation, Area Agency
On Aging, Library Services, Resource Management, Public Works,
Public Defender, Probation, Appointed Sheriff, Treasurer-Tax Collector do it all man, Clerk-Recorder, Assessor Auditor-Controller, District Attorney, and on and on and on....

Why do you want to be a county supervisor?

I want to be County Supervisor because I will bring a vision to this post of advancing our Fifth District.

Yes, there are many responsibilities that come with the Supervisory position. I will not attempt to micro-manage the entire works of Ventura County. There are already good people who do good work in all the different facets of County Government.

My goal is to stop the infighting and status quo that has left much of the Fifth District behind its great potential. A majority of the five-member Board of Supervisors must agree to change policies. My first responsibility will be to restore a healthy relationship between the Fifth District and the other Supervisors.

It will be in the best interest for not only the Fifth District, but also the entire County to fix our missing infrastructure. There are too many points in the Fifth District where poor drainage, street lighting, and unsafe conditions impede on our families’ quality of life.

Our harbor has lost to a stale mate within the Board of Supervisors. We must go beyond bent feelings within our representatives and do what will revitalize our community.

County services and service providers must be allowed to work more effectively and progressively. One of the first needs is to consolidate the 12 separate County Human Resource Offices to one. Repetition of public services along with the duplication of tax dollars can free up and better meet our needs.

Many within the Fifth District seem more interested in the longevity of our current representative than progressing our neighborhoods. I will bring the needs of our community to center stage. It can be done.

Please allow me to invite you to my web site at www.denis4supervisor.com

If JF can't get it done spotlighting the issues...how do you plan to soft shoe the others into funding 5th district issues?

There are no new tricks that John Flynn will be able to come up with. I don't have to soft shoe anything here.

Our voters will be given a chance to move away from a representative who has been in office since Nixon was claiming his innocence in Watergate.

Now, the voters of the Fifth District can expect something different from the same guy, or they can send another representative to fight for their interests. I believe I can make things happen. I believe that I can be part of the betterment of our community because I will work with our community, unlike our current Supervisor who wants everyone to believe that he can get something different in the next four years that he couldn’t in the past 36 years.

Leslie,

I think we have a fundamental disagreement over our obligation as a nation to provide the full range of health & social services to those here illegally, when out first obligation should be to provide it to those who are here legally. There is only so much of the pie to go around and my opinion, although you seem to vociferously disagree with it, is to provide first for those that are here legally.

"I believe that I can be part of the betterment of our community because I will work with our community,". These are words for city council. A supervisor has to work within the county structure and fight for funding on district issues.
How can you get $$$ for projects in OX that JF couldn't?

Continuing to believe that John Flynn will be able to get funds for projects within the Fifth District will send a message that all are satisfied. An electorate that votes for new leadership sends a message.

Bottom line: It is up to the voters to decide if they want change or are satisfied with what they have.

O'Leary, you don't stand a chance. Save your dough.

Written to any other candidate on this blog recently. Improvements can be made. I am putting myself forward because I have heard the concerns of many and have received the support of many.

We can expect better and I am willing to make the effort to improve the conditions of those who live and work in the Fifth District.

Have a great day!

I don't know why someone had to bring up the race issue in this campaign by suggesting one Irishman or another like that is an actual important issue but I thank Mr. O'Leary for answering questions here for us.

Mr. O'Leary will you still run IF John Flynn announces he is retiring? Is this about Mr. Flynn at all for you?

Thanks again for answering our questions.

I am raising a valid concern here - the fiestiness issue. We all know that Irishmen are known for their fiestiness. Now, all I'm saying is that John Flynn has proven this stereotype to be true beyond all reasonable doubt. Will Denis O'Leary do the same, or will he let Flynn and his son (Tim Flynn) hold title to the undisputed tag team championship as the two feistiest Irish politicians in Ventura County?

Mr. O'Leary:

Three simple and direct questions for you that are relevant to the differences you claim exist between yourself and Supervisor Flynn. Are you ready?

Question No. 1: Based on the most recent cost estimates prepared by County staff, the El Rio Sewer Project is projected to cost approximately $38 Million. To date, approximately $16 Million in Federal, State and County Funding has been obtained for this project, in large part, due to the efforts of Supervisor Flynn. Should you be elected, how would you obtain the remaining $22 Million required to complete this project? How much of that funding would come from El Rio Property owners? Will you guarantee El Rio voters any greater success in getting State and Federal funding for this project than that which has been obtained by Supervisor Flynn?

Question No. 2: In December of 2006, the County Board of Supervisors was asked to earmark approximately $5 Million of unallocated funding within the budget of the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, towards projects countywide. Supervisor Flynn argued strongly that at least $3 Million of that amount should have been spent to complete the El Rio Sewer Project. He was voted down 4-1. Had you been elected, how would you have voted? And, more importantly, tell us how you would you have convinced two other Supervisors to support additional county funding for the El Rio Sewer Project at the cost of funding projects in their respective districts? Be specific, please.

Question No. 3: Ron Coons, the County's Public Works Director will retire on April 1st. Some argue that Mr. Coons, as County Public Works Director, failed to exert the necessary leadership required to help El Rio obtain additional sewer funding from the County, others argue that he did all he could. Scuttlebutt in the County Government Center is that the new CEO may not fill Ron Coons' position for many reasons, including saving taxpayer dollars. Would you support the abolition of the position of County Public Works Director to save taxpayer money? If not, why not? And if the position is not abolished, should you be elected, do you have a favorite candidate to succeed Ron Coons as County Public Works Director? If so, who?

Voters in the 5th Supervisorial District, particularly El Rio, are anxiously awaiting answers to these three critical questions?

NostraDEMUS

O'Leary is a good man and has made a big difference in the Oxnard Elementary School District. He has turned around the practice of rotating students due to overcrowding. This practice went on for 30 years and cost the schools millions in wasted money. I have Denis O'Leary get things done and he has my vote.

Denis O'Leary seems like the type of person where if given a larger challenge he would just accomplish more. The citizens should be grateful that people like him offer their services to the community.

There are council members that seem like they are not giving the people the full story. That's what I like about John Flynn. When the other board members start sounding like sales people John Flynn tells us the small print. We don't want to lose that and if you ask me; that's the biggest hurdle you have in beating him.

Re: Irish vs. Irish

What a great subject for a blog in that few people use their real names. The only reason I am answering this is because Mr. John Flynn has used his Irish temper scenario as an excuse for several years. I am fourth generation Irish on my grandfather’s side. I am American and try to not use the origin of my sir name as an excuse.

NostraDEMUS:

Having had answered many questions on separate occasions on this and other blogs, I have found that well informed questioners who do not use their real name are never satisfied with any answers given.

That said, not knowing if you are a well intentioned, well informed community member or an employee of the current Fifth District Supervisor, I will give you my frank answers to the best of my ability.

May I also direct you to my web site at www.denis4supervisor.com

Response to Question #1:

You give Supervisor Flynn too much credit. Federal and State officials have also worked hard in obtaining funds for this project. Assemblyman Pedro Nava stands out for his work in obtaining these funds.

The County had been mandated to connect to the sewer system since 1998 and the target date has just been extended after failing to be completed by the mandate on Dec. 31, 2007. This is two full terms of office, now extended to a third term.

As far as my retaining the needed $22 million, much depends on what John Flynn does or does not do in the next year, before I take office.

Much of the discussions have been centered on the longevity of Mr. John Flynn. This should not be a priority, yet I hear many tell of the years he has been in office as if his continuing to be in office will fix all the problems he has sat on for the past 32 years. I can’t expect that he will come up with a new argument to persuade two more votes from the Board of Supervisors. He has on the other hand made public statements of filing lawsuits against the Board of Supervisors and has recruited opponents to run against the other Supervisors. Now John Flynn has been in office since Nixon was President and instead of putting out a chance that he might work out a solution, he is looking for others to replace what he sees as opponents on the Board of Supervisors. The Fifth District should not be placing its hopes for a better future on the other Districts electing a person of the Fifth District’s liking.

Our voters of the Fifth District can continue to send John Flynn back or possibly they can show interest in a change in results.

As I have said earlier in this discussion, I don’t believe that there are any new tricks Mr. Flynn can bring forward to bring two more votes on the side of paying for the El Rio sew system hook up or any other project for that matter.

My first job will be to present myself and my Fifth District to the other Supervisors and tell them that the voters of the Fifth District are sending a message that our issues will not be distracted by the personality of or work practice of one Mr. John Flynn.

Yes, I will make all appropriate connections and communications with City, County, State and Federal agencies to secure the needed funds. Without the authority of the office it is not appropriate to promise the results of these actions at this time.

Dose this mean that the voter must take a leap of faith in my ability to get funds for needed projects? The alternative is to bolster the 32-year incumbent, which has long ago shown us what he can do and what he is unable to accomplish. Expecting something different from a 32nd to 36th year is not giving the voters of the Fifth District due credit.

One source of funding I will look for is the consolidation of the 12 separate Human Resource offices within the County government. The duplication of services, in this case: 12 times is a waste of tax dollars. This situation has developed over several years and has been ignored by Mr. Flynn and his fellow Supervisors.

Another source of income will be to call for a freeze of the surplus funds that the County is accumulating. The County’s goal is to have on hand a 15% reserve. Currently the County has about half of the goal set aside. Reserve funds are great if all the needs of the constituency are being met. Today, we are not at that stage and the tax money should be used to fix known inadequacies in Ventura County.

Q: “How much of that funding would come from El Rio Property owners?”

A: I hope none. At this time, many have paid over $20,000 out of their own pocket because they understood that the deadline was approaching. Mr. Flynn again has had this mandate to solve for the past 9 years.

I would do everything in my ability to secure government funds to make sure that the home owners and business owners of El Rio do not need to continue to pay for Mr. Flynn failed effort.

Response to Question 2:

Mr. Flynn first voted with the other four Supervisors in a 5 – 0 vote to allocate these funds away from El Rio.

(Please refer to “Ventura County supervisor alleges misuse of surplus funds” By Greg Griggs, Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2007.)

Mr. Flynn did not argue strongly to keep the funds local for the El Rio Sewer Project. He agreed with the other Supervisors to send the funds elsewhere.

Had Supervisor Flynn opposed the taking of the local Ventura County Watershed Protection District funds from the first vote instead of sending the mixed message to the Board of Supervisors, perhaps we would have had a different result. Supervisor Flynn later called for a re-vote in which he changed his vote to a “No” vote. This did not serve our community and put the argument on a weak foundation.

Had I been on the Board of Supervisors at the time, I would have voted to keep the funds for this local project from the first vote. I would have spent my time leading up to the vote working the point with the other Supervisors. Supervisor Flynn instead worked on what he thought was a deal that involved him agreeing to send the money out of the Fifth District for other projects before showing his indignation.

Response to Question 3:

I would expect that the position of County Public Works Director as all management position be effective and accountable for their actions.

Mr. Coons may have failed to exert the leadership to help El Rio in this situation, but he is not the elected official. It’s also very possible that Mr. Coons practiced the age-old practice of counting to three. He may have seen Mr. Flynn as the lone vote and went on the side of civil service job security.

I do not know the personnel file of this individual nor would I discuss a personnel file openly. The position is in itself an important one, but the person would have to be both supported and held accountable to be in the best interest of the County and our taxpayers.

Greg Totten needs more money to investigate why the district attorney's daughters don't win beauty contests. Say no.

Who is this guy and why is he running? He's going to get the ever-living crap kicked out of him by John Flynn.

Dennis:

First of all, thanks for taking the time to respond to my three direct questions with direct answers.

Second, no, I do not work for Supervisor Flynn.

Third, I did not ask you whether or not John Flynn would "retain" the $22 Million, but rather how you would "obtain" the $22 Million in funding necessary to finish the El Rio project.

I am more interested in hearing your concrete plans to do so, rather than your assessment that much depends on what John Flynn may or may not do in the final year of his current term.

You seem to be saying that since you are not yet elected, you do not have the authority of the office, so it would be inappropriate to promise the results of your actions. I am not asking you to promise anything.

If you think that you'll be successful in persuading the four other Supervisors to freeze accumulation of reserve funding and earmark General Fund dollars above the current 7.5% reserve accumulation to the El Rio Project, when the CEO, and more importantly, the bond houses are recommending a minimum 15% reserve figure in order to keep the County's borrowing costs down, guess again.

My question is simple, what is your specific plan to get this $22 Million in funding for the El Rio Project?

Care to try again?

NostraDEMUS

Don't hold your breath, NostraDEMUS. This guy won't respond. He can tell when he's outmatched.

As I have said: Having had answered many questions on separate occasions on this and other blogs, I have found that well informed questioners who do not use their real name are never satisfied with any answers given.

I can get done what John Flynn has failed to do. If your goal is to watch the longevity of Mr. Flynn take out your $20,000 loan to get connected.

Dennis,
Thank you for standing up against a bad politician. I believe that you can do better than John Flynn. There are no guarantees in life, but the long history of the guy your calling to retire has shown us that he is incapable to get accomplished what these guys are asking.