Simi Interviews at Regal - Part I

The crew over at votesimivalley.com is putting together some great stuff. If your campaign wants them to record a debate or other event they have the creativity and the skills required.

Click on play and prepare to be entertained.

Mike, could I get a link?

Shop Simi Valley First - What's the cost to taxpayers?

Many people have either been critical or asked questions about the Shop Simi Valley First Campaign that the city of Simi Valley helps subsidize. The city helps pay for a website, ads in newspapers, and ads around town. ( Side note: a newspaper that takes money from the campaign that endorses the campaign isn't surprising to me.)

Instead of just asking questions I figured I'd help out. I get decent traffic numbers so I figured we could use this site to augment the attempts at profiling local businesses.

List a business in Simi Valley you support and why. This first entry will be all about restaurants.

If you are interested tell me some of your favorite restaurants in Simi Valley. Why do you keep going back? What is so great about them?

If you live in another town go ahead and attempt to lure people there. I will try to respond with a better Simi Valley restaurant.

My current favorite spot is Indian Haweli @ 1750 E. Los Angeles Ave ( On the south side of Los Angeles in the shopping plaza that used to have Best Records.)

Visit their website by clicking here. If you want to meet me for lunch to talk politics this is my pick. Just don't try to pick up the tab.

If you want to help out share with us your favorite places. GS, how long have you been getting coffee at the same place?

Simi Valley - Be sure before you vote status quo!

( In this video a Bruce Witkin supporter points out that Paul Miller hasn't updated his website since 2004. But it says more information coming soon. Do you think Paul Miller is very confident to the point he isn't campaigning much?)

Bruce Witkin's campaign has a new website up and has a few youtube videos up too.

Bruce answered questions from my readers which you can read by clicking here.

Do you have any more questions for Bruce?

Do you think there should be any debates in this campaign?

The current mayor, Paul Miller is obviously the favored candidate at this point. But if Bruce is able to run a good campaign I expect to see him running again in the future.

Local business owner and community activist Bruce Witkin is running for mayor. I talked to him by phone and in person at his store and he is both energetic and really serious about improving our city. To read a short campaign statement click on continue reading.

He has agreed to answer questions from my readers and from me. Please remember that he does run two businesses and he is very involved in our community. If he doesn't answer your questions quickly, be patient.

If you know a candidate running for office that wants to have their campaign covered, send me an email.

Thanks for your service to our community Bruce. Here are some questions:

1. Do you think the Shop Simi Valley First campaign is a good use of tax dollars?
2. Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce? If you are a member how has this influenced your opinion of city problems?
3. Would you support the city using all alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles for workers when the job they do allows for it even if it isn't revenue neutral?
4. What local politician do you respect the most?
5. As Mayor would you read and answer questions during council meetings that were emailed to you?

Readers, you do not need to register, use your real or full name, nor give your real email address to comment. Please keep the questions on topic.

City Council candidate Mike Judge has turned in all his paperwork and is an official candidate for the Simi Valley City Council.

I spoke with him and he is willing to answer your questions.

Mike, here are a few from me to get you started.

1. Do you think the city has done a decent job dealing with crime in Simi Valley?
2. What do you think of the city spending money on the Shop Simi Valley First campaign?
3. Do you call it the Arroyo or the wash.
4. Which local politician do you respect the most?
5. Have you attended city council meetings?

Looks like there is a new vlog ( video + blog = vlog) in town!

Hey, if you have the email address for any of the following candidates in Simi Valley please send it to me:

Gina Hardy
Ed Lang
Michael Thomas Judge
Neil Kieffer
Pat Kerry Bowen
Gerald Smith

That's a bunch of candidates. What's going on? Has anyone heard of any of them? So far Michael Thomas Judge has already turned his paperwork in.

To my friends with the voter roles: Please post their party ID. Thanks for all of your help!

Does anyone know the email address or background information for Michael Thomas Judge? He is listed as a candidate for the Simi Valley City Council.

I had an entry up to ask Rob Collins questions. I took it down to delete off topic comments. I expect to put it back up later this week. Thanks to those asking questions about the Simi Valley school board election.

It looks like CVUSD Board Member Mike Dunn's wife is running for school board. Will they be added to the list of political power couples locally?

I also saw a candidate listed for Moorpark school board with the last name Van Dam. I assume that she is related to council member Mark Van Dam but I will check into it. Here is Mark Van Dam from a few years back:

The first official step in running for office is picking up the paperwork from city hall or the county clerk's office. Paul picked up his paperwork and has until August to turn it in. If you know someone running tell them to email me and I will start posting information about their biography and platform.

I spoke with Paul Moomjean about why he is running for Mayor by phone and he agreed to answer questions from my readers. So, ask away!

Paul will have limited access to the internet over the next 10 days or so but he said he will answer questions from time to time.

Remember, you do not need to register to leave comments and you do not need to use your full or proper name. I delete comments from time to time that violate the comments policy. As always send me an email to delete a comment.

So what questions do you have for Paul?

Click on continue reading for three basic questions that I asked him and to see a bonus video.

I stopped by city hall and the following people have picked up their paperwork to run for city council:

Incumbents:

Steve Sojka
Barbra Williamson

New folks:
Gina Hardy
Gerald Smith

If anyone has their contact information please send it to me.

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?

( 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.

The Rev. John Southwick will be talking about and answering questions from readers in regards to The proposed development in Simi Valley called Runkle Canyon or Runkledyne by critics.

You can read the background to the current debate by going through the pages of press clippings at this link.

My questions for this group:

What local leaders have you been able to work with the best in your efforts to make sure the public safety and environment are protected?

Have you brought this to the attention of any local candidates from the state assembly to congress?

Do you hold public meetings to discuss this issue?

What is the URL for your youtube videos? Do you plan to release any more soon?

In other news next week there is an EIR meeting in Simi Valley about the proposed landfill expansion. Has anyone heard if it will be televised?