The campaign for the nomination to take on Rep. Gallegly ( The fighting 24th) is building up in these last few weeks before the election.
Democratic candidate Mary Pallant has announced an endorsement by The California Nurses Association as she tries to build a coalition to win the nomination and to take the battle to Rep. Gallegly. Click on continue reading to see the press release.
There is a candidates' forum coming up put together by a local "Drinking Liberally" group. Democrats will be debating in a bar! Leave some questions as comments here that the moderators can use in the debate.
On a side note this blog has some new features that I need to explain. When i first started I didn't know that categories would ever be visible by the public. So, I didn't make very descriptive titles and I didn't assign every entry a category or categories. But lately I have been making new categories and adding more to the titles. I plan to update the titles as I go along by adding party affiliation and more. But for now don't read too much into it if there is information for one office holder and not another.
The recent comments feature can make it easier to follow a conversation. On the right hand side of the front page it gives a list of the recent comments, who made them, and on what entry they were made on. If you click on the short description it will take you right to the entry. Try it.
Thanks for reading and leaving comments. Traffic continues to grow at a fast rate.
Visit the new web site: www.MaryPallant.com
Mary outside
CNA Political Action Committee Endorsed Mary Pallant for Congress!
Read Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION ENDORSES MARY PALLANT FOR THE 24th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(Ventura, CA - May 15, 2008) In a continuing wave of official endorsements from labor groups, Mary Pallant, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 24th District, serving most of Ventura County and inland Santa Barbara County, has received a highly prized endorsement from the California Nurses Association Political Action Committee.
In a letter to Ms Pallant's campaign the group stated: "The California Nurses Association Political Action Committee has endorsed your candidacy for Congressional District 24. The California Nurses Association is a professional association that represents the largest number of registered nurses under collective bargaining agreements in California.
"We believe that you will do an excellent job in representing your district on health, labor and women's issues, and supporting clean money elections which are important issues to Registered Nurses."
"Labor strengthens our workers voice in the work place," affirms Pallant. "For a democracy to thrive, we must have a say in our society and a say in our work force. Unions give us a say in our work force and hence help to strengthen our democracy. I am honored to receive this endorsement.
"I intend to defend and support a woman's right to choose. It is a privacy issue as protected in our constitution and further, it is not up to the government to decide who should reproduce - that's not government's role."
Pallant supports Single Payer healthcare, which is publicly funded and privately administered. She believes that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. "Our current system is badly broken with millions of Americans without insurance and millions more one pink slip away from losing theirs," Pallant stated.
Mary is also a strong advocate for public financing of campaigns and worked tirelessly for the Clean Money initiative in 2006. "American democracy was not intended to be sold to the highest bidder," said Pallant. "Legislators should be focused on improving the lot of their constituents, not raising money 24 hours a day. The current system is badly broken and it must be mended for the vast majority of Americans to feel they are part of the government and not locked out by corporate interests and lobbyists."
"I look forward to having an opportunity to work for the people of the 24th District, including all of the nurses who have now shown their support through this wonderful endorsement of my candidacy."
Over the last eighteen months, Pallant has also produced a highly successful speaker series in Ventura County, bringing national speakers like Ambassador Joe Wilson and Thom Hartmann to the area. The series has drawn standing room only crowds as the political winds change in the area.
She was also instrumental in the creation of the Progressive Democrats of America, Ventura County Chapter, which meets the first Monday of each month. The group brings together Progressive citizens on a variety of issues including anti-war, anti-poverty, healthcare, church & state, environment and other progressive programs. And, as a former business owner of 10 years and active in local politics for the last several years, her history has taught her what is needed to create real change in Washington.
For more information on her campaign, please visit www.MaryPallant.com or phone her campaign at 805.665.8412.
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It is time for a politics of ideas. It is time for a politics of hope. It is time for a politics of truth. And, it is time for a new direction. Join me so that together we can take back our country, our district, our democracy. - Mary
Candidates' forum @ Drinking Liberally press release
Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mark Eggertsen
camarillo@drinkingliberally.org
markeggertsen@gmail.com
LOCAL DRINKING LIBERALLY CHAPTER
TO HOST 24TH CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE'S FORUM
Wednesday, May 28th 8:00 PM
(Drinking Liberally: One pint at a time)
Could political change really be brewing up at the bar on your corner?
"Drinking Liberally" Ventura County is hosting the final candidate's forum in the Democratic primary for the Democratic nomination to the race for the 24th Congressional District seat this November.
Candidates for the Democratic nomination, Jill Martinez and Mary Pallant, have been invited to this final forum, just days before the June 3rd primary election. Each candidate will be asked questions, previously submitted by the group, in a debate-style format, followed by a more candidate-specific question-answer session from the floor of attendees.
"This is an exciting time for our district - we have two viable candidates in a race against a weak Incumbent," says Heather Schmidt, co-founder of the Ventura County chapter and moderator of the forum. "We can't wait to hear what each candidate has to say about the issues that are important to our district!"
Drinking Liberally is a national organization, founded in May 2003. The organization now has over 200 chapters nationwide. Drinking Liberally is a non-partisan organization that encourages open and liberal-leaning discussion in a comfortable, face-to-face environment. For more information on the organization, visit drinkingliberally.org.
The forum will be held at the local chapter's usual watering hole - J.J. Brewsky's at 2433 Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo, CA, Wednesday, May 28th, 2008. Social hour begins at 7:00 PM and the debate/forum will begin at 8:00 PM.
Says Schmidt, "This is the last chance for the voters of the 24th Congressional District to get the heart and soul of each candidate's platform before the June 3rd election...we are excited be a part of this event."
The local Ventura County chapter meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at J.J. Brewsky's in Camarillo and is currently hosted by Mark Eggertsen, Marie Davis and Brian Mack.
Jill Martinez and Mary Pallant along with other Democratic candidates will be speaking next Wednesday, 5/21/08, at the Simi Valley/Moorpark Democratic Club meeting.
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Simi Valley Library
Community Room
2969 Tapo Canyon Rd
Simi Valley, CA
The Simi Valley/Moorpark Democratic Club invited all local, state and federal Democratic candidates to show, and speak, at its general meeting May 21. As Jill Martinez wrote on her website, Come and meet your candidates, ask tough questions, volunteer to help campaigns, donate, and inform yourself in the process.
For more info go to http://www.simimoorparkdemocrats.com/calendar.php
Would like to know why our "strong candidates" have never really been up to Santa Barbara County stumping, no yard signs, no real press except to come to Lompoc one time, maybe Santa Maria one time, here I am so called dropped out of the race because of lack of money, but I am better known up here than they are. I thought the district included Santa Barbara County, folks.
My supporters are busy getting my message out.
People are doing it on their own, money or no money, endorsements or no endorsements.
Better hurray up and get here before June 3.
Would like to know why our "strong candidates" have never really been up to Santa Barbara County stumping, no yard signs, no real press except to come to Lompoc one time, maybe Santa Maria one time, here I am so called dropped out of the race because of lack of money, but I am better known up here than they are. I thought the district included Santa Barbara County, folks.
My supporters are busy getting my message out.
People are doing it on their own, money or no money, endorsements or no endorsements.
Better hurray up and get here before June 3.
Did you campaign in Simi Valley?
No but thats because I did not have the money to travel to Simi Valley. They do and they can afford to come up here. It's completely different.
Campaigning in one's backyard is different than campaigning 100 miles away, but completely different? I doubt it. Also, it seems to me that a candidate worthy of the name (and subsequent office) would find a way to travel that 200 miles (round trip) even if she didn't have a vehicle or the $50.00 gas/oil/tire expense. Marta, I would say that you just offered a great reason for not voting for you.
On the practical real world level, do you have access to a car that you could use to travel to Simi Valley? How much money would you actually need for gas/oil/tires to drive down to Simi Valley on Wednesday evening so that you could speak at the SVMPDC along with Jill Martinez and Mary Pallant? Or would you prefer to take the bus/train and have someone pick you up at the train/bus depot? Do you have a website that shows info about your campaign?
If you get me that info, I will try to get you a donation so that you can meet with us on Wednesday evening.
You really hired staff when you couldn't afford the travel cost for gas?
No I did not hire staff. We are volunteers. As for the other remark, your taunt is not warranted. I droppped out and it would be improper for me to drop back in just to placate Mary Palant's campaign manager. I think my comment is valid. There are many people here who do not know Jill or Mary and both of them have money and staff and should be up here. You know that. So why don't you just say yes you are probably right but instead there is always this hostile attitude from Pallant supporters, very much like the candidate herself who has a hostile streak which is documented.
I don't think it was clear to everyone here that you dropped out and have endorsed Jill Martinez.
I thought Martinez lived in Lompoc. Isn't that in your part of the district?
just to placate Mary Palant's campaign manager?????
Marta, who were you talking about?
Let me get this straight. It's ok for your volunteers, let me quote you exactly, your supporters to get your message out in your area, but it's not ok to take the message to Simi Valley?
The answer to your question about campaign strategy is obvious. Neither candidate is making a "sign effort" so neither is falling behind the other in that category. The same could be said for meeting Democrats in your area. With neither candidate vigorously campaigning in your area, neither candidate is falling behind the other on that score. Each is using each's limited resources in the manner each has determined is most productive for them. As a previous candidate, I would think that you would be sensitive to such managerial decisionmaking.
I take it that you do not plan on taking me up on my offer to try and get you a donation to pay for your expenses to Simi Valley on Wednesday night.
It seems to me that Jill Martinez doesn't have the money to drive to the Lompoc area. With a campaign nearly $100,000 in debt, how would that be possible? She has to run this time around just to pay off the debt from the last election she attempted. Given she has had two years to pay it off, it doesn't look like she's going to get that done. This past week Martinez stated to the Conejo Dems that $1.6 million was needed to go up against Gallegly. Well what has she been doing these past two years?
How on earth will she make any meaningful challenge to Gallegly? Not possible.
Mary Pallant seems to be pacing herself financially. She's not in debt, but she doesn't appear to have the financial resources to be all over the place.
Why would Martinez need to drive to Lompoc? That is where she lives, no?
Where does Martinez live? That depends on which day you ask. Lately it looks like a PO Box in Thousand Oaks. I think I did see somewhere else Lompoc, but hasn't there been Camarillo as well? Not sure. Isn't the reality Oxnard?
Maybe we could ask Tom McClintock if this is an important issue.
Has Rep. Gallegly endorsed Tom McClintock? If he has, then any attack would be meaningless from him.
May 19 - Is the last day to register to vote before June Primary on June 03, 2008!!!
06/03/08 ELECTION DAY For the CA Primary Election. Please, remember to VOTE. Find links to several resources and info for elections (statewide; other counties included), at the Ventura County Elections page
Jill Martinez, CA-24 Democrat for Congress, wants to remind you and encourage you that your vote will count. It is just as important in the primary election, as in the November election of this year. Many people can ask to run for office, it is in the primary, that you, the voters, decide which people you would like to seriously consider the November election. We need participation in the primary election
Rather than participate in tearing down other candidates, and focusing on the deficits of others, Jill Martinez reflects on her own long history of community service, and her strengths. If you visit her website, you will find that Martinez has a long history of being part of the solution. As one of the co-chairs of the committee on Peace Education and Disarmament presented in four languages, and held in Helsinki, Finland, she was instrumental in restructuring the conference and turning it into real dialogue. She continues to teach regularly on multi-cultural issues impacting relationships at the local level, knowing this enhances our ability to work in partnerships around the world.
Raised on the Central Coast of California, Jill Martinez does not limit her dedication to just "state," or "homeland." She has whole-heartedly committed her life to service in the public arena, to improve living standards of generations of hard working, low income and middle class families. Future generations will benefit from the work in which she has participated locally, regionally and around the world. As Congresswoman, Martinez will continue to successfully bring opportunities in education, health care, housing and economic development. She will work, immediately, to support the efforts to end the war in Iraq and bring those funds home to provide for families here. She will facilitate cooperative efforts in transportation and address global warming by prioritizing research and development in renewable energy sources by using skills she has developed over 3 decades.
In order to provide you the opportunity to really get to know Jill, the person, and Jill Martinez, the candidate, there was a page built on her site that has a library of links of biographical information from many sources. This page allows you to read what many others are saying about Jill. Visit .
CA Labor Federation, AFL-CIO lists Jill Martinez in the recommendtaions for the statewide primary. The UAW (Region 5) just endorsed Jill, and the California Teachers Association Endorsed Jill, along with The NEA Fund for Children & Publich Education. The Political Action Committee of the National Education Association, Washington, DC. Visit for a growing, but partial list of endorsers of Jill Martinez.
With her mixed race background, Montgomery on her Mother’s side that can be traced back to a long United States heritage, and as a first generation Mexican on the other, Jill Martinez is a proven leader accepting some of the most difficult of challenges and prevailing, against all odds. Vote for her. We need her!
Jill is available for meet and greets, forums, debates, question and answer meetings. Feel free to
Contact the offices of Jill:
Jill Martinez For Congress 2008
Post Office Box 3322
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359
805-446-3000
Email: Sherry@JillMartinezForCongress2008.com
I would Like to add:
I was at the government center last Friday for the celebration of the California State Supreme Court, and was talking to some Democrats from the Camarillo Dem Club. It was no surprise to me when accusations of "lies" and stating that another candidate was a "liar" were reported to me, by two very wise members of that club. I won't sling the same mud, by naming the accuser, but I will share this. Those voters told me they were conflicted about who to endorse, who to back, and who to vote for, but when one candidate make dishonest accusations, trying to use ugly tatics, in order to look better, those two voters swung to the accused, who is running on her record of publich service, her good reputation and her work, and, communications and organizational skills. No mud slinging required.