State Senate District 19 Democratic candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson will square off with Republican Tony Strickland once again in a town hall-style event on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Ventura College Cafeteria. The event will be sponsored by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Ventura County Star. It is free and open to the public.

Jackson, the former Assembly member for the 35th District, demonstrated just how capable a debater she is with a strong showing against Strickland at a forum held Sept. 21 at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks.

The former deputy district attorney effectively challenged her opponent’s ballot designation as a “renewable energy businessman” after the forum moderator announced the environmental records of the two candidates.  The California League of Conservation Voters gave Jackson a 98.8 percent rating vs. Strickland’s 1.67 percent. Strickland immediately went on the attack against the organization.

Jackson countered, “Rather than defame an organization that’s been held in high esteem in the environmental community for decades, let’s look at the bills they were talking about.” Strickland even voted against a bill which would’ve helped the renewable energy industry, she said.

Jackson also excelled at a Sept. 24 forum co-sponsored by the Star and the California Association of Political Centrists. Citing issues with the bipartisan group co-sponsoring the forum, Strickland declined to participate.

Jackson spoke about why she decided to go into politics. “I’m an eternal optimist and that’s what brings me into the political world.”

Her advice for negotiating next year’s budget: “Stop this ideological posturing. Politics is the art of compromise.”

The Ventura College Cafeteria is located in the CSA building across from the gymnasium, 4667 Telegraph Road, in Ventura. Parking is free. For more information, call the Ventura Chamber of Commerce at (805) 676-7500.

The next forum between Jackson and Strickland will be hosted by the League of Women Voters and will be held Oct. 10 from 4-5 p.m. at Cal Lutheran University’s Oxnard Campus, 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 600, in Oxnard.