Ferial Masry, Candidate for 37th Assembly District is saluting MANNA of Conejo Valley at her campaign kickoff on May 2, 2010.

Ferial’s perseverance has been years in the making and now she has an Open Seat! High School Civic & American Government Teacher at Distinguished San Fernando Valley School. She is a grassroots activist, small business owner, labor member, neighbor, friend, mother, wife, committed community member, and she has name recognition.

ADMITTANCE: Bring several dry goods or canned food, your dancing partner, shoes and noise makers. Free ample parking. Open to the community. Great Networking! Free hors d’ oeuvres, Desserts & Drinks! Ventura County 2010 Candidates, Propositions, Voter Registration & Special Guests. Opportunities available for campaign endorsements and fund raising.

LOCATION: Casa De La Senda Clubhouse, 3780 Cabrillo Avenue, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Date: May 2, 2010
TIME: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
RSVP: Ventura County (805) 498-7608; LA County (661) 295-9318

Sponsored by Friends to Elect Ferial Masry for (California’s 37th) Assembly District, 2010.
FPPC ID # 1321069 http://www.ferialmasryforassembly.com
POB #19244, Newbury Park, CA 91320‐0213; MasryforASSEMBLY@GMAIL.COM;
Ventura County: 805‐498‐7068 or Los Angeles County: 661‐295‐9318
Financial Contribution limited to $3,600 per person. Contributions are not tax deductible

Simi Valley, CA – On the same day Jim Dantona officially filed to run for Ventura County Clerk and Recorder, he picked up some major endorsements. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, Congressman Brad Sherman and State Senator Alex Padilla join a growing list of supporters lining up behind Dantona’s campaign.

Joining Dantona at the Ventura County Clerk’s office to file were former Mayor of Ventura and author of SOAR, Richard Francis, California Teachers Association Regional Director Arleigh Kidd and Ventura County Firefighter Association President Chris Mahon.

Francis was emphatic about his support for Dantona. “Jim Dantona has been a person who has dedicated himself to making life better for others. I support his campaign for the Clerk/Recorder’s office in the County of Ventura because I believe he brings the best spirit of improving conditions for all Ventura County voters who use this most important tool of democracy.”

Jack O’Connell previously represented portions of Ventura County as an Assembly Member and has known Dantona for more than twenty years. “Jim Dantona’s vast involvement in the election process is perfect for the role of County Clerk and Recorder. He will oversee voter outreach and be sure that elections are fair, results are timely and the voter is respected. Beyond that, his dedication to young people speaks volumes about his integrity.”

Jim Dantona, an independent businessman and veteran of local, state and national government, has announced his candidacy for the office of Ventura County Clerk and Recorder.  Promoting fair elections, fiscal responsibility and protecting our future, Dantona has already secured the endorsement of the Ventura County Firefighters.

Dantona acknowledges “The average voter may not realize just how important is the work of Clerk and Recorder.  Besides recording and securing vital public records, the Elections Division is ultimately responsible for guaranteeing fair elections and timely results. In recent years, I think we’ve seen mistakes that call into question whether or not Ventura County has always accomplished that.”

Dantona’s government experience includes work with both Democratic and Republican leadership which he sees as a major advantage in this non-partisan position. “I have always said we do not need new taxes. What we need is new leadership and strict fiscal accountability to halt the waste of taxpayer dollars.  I will work to create more efficiency and embrace competent, proven technology that saves money and protects our records and our votes. And if Sacramento comes knocking on Ventura County’s door, I have the ability, the contacts and the guts to oppose them for trying to cover their own mismanagement of taxpayers dollars by raiding Ventura County funds.”

Dantona says he relates to many county residents today who are struggling through personal and professional hardship. “Believe me, I have been there and my past opponents have tried to exploit that fact, but I know that leadership, hard work and determination are what will ultimately get us through.”  A single parent, Dantona raised his three children on his own, founded an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to keeping young people off drugs, in school and out of gangs, and was honored by     the FBI for doing so.  He has also managed large staffs for the State of California and consulted for two U.S. Presidents.

CA Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez and Assembly Candidate Ernest Morrell

On November 12, Senator Dean Florez, State Senate Majority Leader and candidate for Lieutenant Governor, spent an afternoon with faculty, students and invited guests at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies to discuss education and pressing concerns in California. After a brief introduction by Dr. Ernest Morrell, Senator Florez discussed his educational experiences growing up in Shafter, Kern County. He then shared details of his educational journey from community college, to UCLA and finally Harvard Business School. As a student at UCLA, Senator Florez became involved in politics and as he spoke, compared the concerns while he was a college student to challenges facing students today.

A significant amount of time was set aside for questions for Senator Florez that ranged from topics related to education, prison and the media to passing legislation in Sacramento. Senator Florez offered candid responses and suggestions for how individuals can become involved in politics to make a difference. He elaborated on many of the intricacies of politics and reminded the group of his motto, “Hard Work Matters”.

The informal discussion was arranged by Morrell, UCLA Associate Professor, Associate Director of the Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access (IDEA), and candidate for the 37th State Assembly district. Florez and Morrell felt the forum was important to discuss serious concerns about the direction in which California is headed. They share a commitment to equitable access to education for all students, care for the environment, and improving the quality of life for Californians.

By Michael Sullivan Ventura County Reporter

When Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Matheney announced last week that he would not seek another term, it came as a big surprise that Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, whose professional experience is limited to her political work and her time as a private junior high schoolteacher, was going to run for the position, which she officially announced Tuesday.

Albeit, in order to run for just about any elected seat — whether it be the governor of California or the tax collector of Ventura County — candidates must meet very minimal qualifications, mainly, they must be registered to vote and be older than 18, and the process to obtain such positions is based solely on the will of the people. While we are not going to dwell on the flaws of the democratic process — the electing of certain individuals who are seemingly not qualified — in the case of county treasurer-tax collector, if we refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them.

Fifteen years ago, Orange County declared bankruptcy, losing $1.6 billion due to extremely risky financial investments made by the longtime treasurer-tax collector, Robert Citron. Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California then wrote a follow up to the OC debacle in 1998, making 10 policy recommendations to prevent such a disaster in the future. One of the recommendations was that “local elected officials need more financial expertise and objective professional advice so that they can make sound fiscal policy decisions in the complex world of municipal finance.” California legislators had also passed Senate Bill 863 in 1995 that would require individuals running for treasurer to meet certain professional and educational standards. But this law was specific to individual counties and would only be enacted if a county’s board of supervisors adopted it. To this day, the provision has not been adopted locally by the Board of Supervisors.

Although times have changed, fortunately, the supervisors can still approve and enact the law before Matheney gives up his post as the county’s watchdog over public funds. SB 863 requirements include either having worked in a senior financial management position for a public agency; have an accounting or finance degree or be a certified public accountant or chartered financial analyst. We believe these qualifications to be minimal and absolutely necessary, considering the millions of dollars the treasurer-tax collector must be accountable for and the county’s multimillion dollar budget shortfall during this economic climate.

Given the questionable practice of earning money by running husband Tony Strickland’s Senate race campaign where Audra’s company earned six figures through fundraising — a practice which now is illegal, courtesy of a bill proposed by Tony himself this summer — and her limited professional experience, we don’t believe she is the right person for the job. We are also careful to endorse any person for that position, unless they meet the minimum requirements included in the provision, whether or not the supervisors enact it.

We hope Ventura County’s Board of Supervisors expedites this agenda item of raising the minimum requirements for treasurer to the top of the list — or at least well before Feb. 15, the time when candidates can file declarations of their intent to run for office. While the current treasurer-tax collector called Audra’s intent to run for the seat as “great,” we suggest proceeding with caution, hoping that the supervisors will do everything possible to hire a qualified and experienced individual to this important decision. At a salary of more than $150,000, they should have many applicants.

You are invited to a Campaign Kick-Off Fundraiser for Tim Allison, candidate for the CA 24th Congressional District, 2010.

Meet the Candidate with the experience to win in 2010.

Join host Melissa DeMarco on Friday, October 2nd from 7 to 9 pm, 5396 Calarosa Ranch Road, Camarillo, CA.

Melissa and her family have opened their spectacular Camarillo Estates home so we may enjoy gourmet hors d’ oeurves, a full bar, great conversation, networking, and a speech from the candidate in fabulous surroundings.

Tim Allison will tell us his positions on the issues we are faced with locally, and nationally. Talk directly with the candidate about the political issues affecting all of us.

Others who will join us at this event:
Sue Broidy, Director, Region 10 of the California Democratic Party
Jill Martinez, Chair, Ventura County Democratic Party
Brian Leshon, First Vice Chair, Ventura County Democratic Party

Co-chair, Co-host & Sponsorship opportunities are available:
Co-Chair: $2,400 Co-Sponsor: $1,000 Co-Host: $500 Friend: $250 Guest: $50

Please RSVP by visiting ActBlue.com/page/AllisonFRCamarillo

For information call 805-482-7115 or email missydemarco@aol.com.

Paid for by the Friends of Tim Allison
David Thompson, Treasurer, FEC# C00464347

The Ventura County Democratic Central Committee Bylaws
do not allow the endorsement of any candidate until after the 2010 primary on June 8.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams today announced that his campaign for the 35th Assembly District received the endorsement of the Santa Barbara Police Officers Association (SBPOA), which represents 130 sworn police officers in the Santa Barbara area.

“Das Wiliams’ experience and solid track record on public safety issues are the reasons why Santa Barbara’s police officers support his candidacy in this race,” said Charles McChesney, president of SBPOA. “In the midst of city budget deficits, Das Williams found a way to maintain local law enforcement and other vital public services, and has consistently demonstrated a clear and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe. Das Williams is unquestionably the most qualified individual to represent this District, and I am calling on all of our region’s public safety officials to join SBPOA in supporting his campaign.”

SBPOA is one of dozens of organizations, unions, and other notable state and local leaders to have endorsed Das Williams for Assembly since his campaign kick-off announcement just two months ago.

“I am deeply honored to have the support of rank-and-file police officers who put their lives on the line every day for the people of this state,” said Das Williams. “I know that government has no more important responsibility than to make sure its citizens are safe, and in the Assembly I’ll continue to fight hard to ensure that public safety officials have the resources they need to protect our streets and neighborhoods and return home to their families at the end of each day.”

Das Williams is running to succeed termed-out Assemblymember Pedro Nava in 2010.

####

Das Williams grew up on the Central Coast and is a product of local public schools. In 2003, Das Williams became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Santa Barbara City Council, and was re-elected in 2007. Das has worked as a teacher, a policy aide for former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, and a community organizer working to stop the development of a Wal-Mart in Ventura and enact local living wage laws in Santa Barbara and Ventura. Das serves on the Peabody Charter School Board and is a national board member of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Das received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and holds a graduate degree in Environmental Science & Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marta Jorgensen, Democratic Candidate for Congress in the California 24th District, is launching an outreach program to listen to citizens throughout the district. She will be visiting voters in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks during the Fall and Winter, starting in September, 2009.

Jorgensen will be at the Jumbo Mixer & Green Living Expo, sponsored by the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce on September 24, 2009, at 4:00 PM at the Simi Valley Town Center Mall. The event showcases “green” businesses and easy environmentally-friendly practices. The event is free and open to the public.

“I’m especially hoping to meet average citizens and small business owners to hear from them first hand not only how I can help them as their representative in Congress, but how I can help them today,” Jorgensen said. She sees this event as an opportunity to help small businesses in the area, especially during these challenging economic times.

Later on in the day, Marta will spend time at the Fall Business Expo and Trade Show, sponsored by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, at 6:00 PM at the Hyatt Westake Plaza Hotel, in Westlake Village. Both of these events reflect Jorgensen’s firm belief that our district’s congressional representative has an obligation to work closely with local chambers of commerce to ensure that Ventura County small businesses have every advantage to grow and prosper.

Jorgensen is planning future events in the area to highlight her commitment to education, our local environment, small businesses, new job creation, and other ways. Learning from her 2008 campaign, she is actively soliciting input from average citizens concerning their day to day lives, asking the question of how the 24th district’s congressional representative can best serve the needs of every citizen who wants their voice heard in Washington.

Information and updates are available on her campaign website: http://www.jorgensenforcongress.com

Hilary Crosby, candidate for Controller of the California Democratic Party of California, met with regional Democrats for lunch on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at My Florist Winecafe and Bakery in Ventura. Sue Broidy, who is running for the position of Region 10 Director for the the tri-county region, arranged this opportunity for us to meet the candidate and get a better understanding of what’s at stake in the election of a Controller.

Crosby has over 30 years experience as a finance professional. She has been a Certified Public Accountant who has worked with non-profits, unions, and social justice groups. Also definitely to the point are her plans for a new statewide fundraising strategy and for encouraging a network of county and club Treasurers. All this is to support local and statewide Democratic Party fund-raising efforts and to support all Treasurers with their efforts to comply with the finance laws. Crosby emphasized the need for implementing a 58 County Plan, observing that Republicans are running unopposed in counties where no one is available or qualified to make the financial arrangements for Democratic campaigns.

The discussion emphasized the complexities of campaign finance and the necessity of having a qualified expert to master the legal intricacies. Money donated to State Democratic organizations by corporations or unions, for example, cannot be used to fund federal elections in any way, not even for voter registration or for slate mailers on which a federal candidate is listed.

Sandra Kinsler, Treasurer of the Ventura County Democratic Party, spoke with the candidate about the need for clear procedures and accurate record keeping so that subsequent Treasurers and e-board members receive a legacy from current office holders. The legacy that must be passed on needs to be an efficient and practical system of record keeping and procedures—not a shoe box full of tattered receipts and figures scrawled on the backs of used envelopes. Kinsler determined that because of Crosby’s thorough financial background, experience with the finance laws, focus on consistent record keeping and reporting, statewide focus on cohesiveness, participation with the Progressive side of the Democratic Party, and willingness to speak face-to-face with central committees and clubs, that she would endorse her. Brian Leshon, Sue Broidy and Helen Conly have also endorsed Hilary Crosby

Crosby emphasized the need for transparency at all levels of the Democratic Party in California, state, counties, and chartered clubs. “We have to know where the money is coming from and where it is going. And we need a strong individual donor program,” stated Crosby. Currently the county gets 80% of its funding from institutional donors—and of course large donors have undue influence on important legislation. If we want to change the game, we have to pay to play like unions and corporations do. We cannot, of course, contribute thousands of dollars, but if enough of us contribute small amounts monthly—a couple of our notorious liberal latte’s worth—we can and will make the changes we must make.

Hilary Crosby is running against CDP Controller incumbent Eric Bradley from Long Beach, California.

Hilary Crosby has good ideas, and the practical know how and financial experience to implement them. She would make an excellent Controller for the California Democratic Party. We will get change when we elect the people who can make change happen.

Full disclosure: I am president of The Pollux Group, a qualitative consulting firm. My firm worked this cycle (almost entirely pro bono) for Eric Bauman’s LACDP on multiple races, including that of Ferial Masry in AD-37.

Eric Bauman, chair of the LACDP, announced in a conference call to supporters and media this evening that he has dropped out of the race for CDP Chair, for all intents and purposes ceding the field to the more institutionally backed John Burton, whose long history of service to the Party and fundraising prowess have earned him the endorsements of many of the Party’s leading lights.

Why should Ventura Democrats care? Because Bauman, in addition to being a Southern Californian, viscerally understands the importance of having a real 58-county strategy in California. The State Party came too little, too late to the aid of fantastic Democrats like Hannah-Beth Jackson and Ferial Masry. These local Democrats came within inches of victory and could have claimed another much-needed Assembly and State Senate seat for Democrats, even as some unmentionables retained $1.5 million Party dollars for personal defense funds, and much of the rest was showered on almost shoe-in or longer-shot races elsewhere in the state, particularly in the North.

The practical effect of Bauman’s dropping out of the race is that Ventura County Democrats (and those in the Inland Empire, where gains are also there to be made) will have to fight harder to get the support we need from the State Party to turn the registration gains made in our newly blue and highly competitive districts into electoral victories. Like it or not, money and seasoned strategists can make or break campaigns, and Ventura Democrats cannot do it alone. Eric Bauman would have been an extraordinary asset as CDP Chair, because he understands the crucial importance of areas like Ventura to the future of California and the Democratic Party

The good news, however, is that Eric is now running for Vice-Chair of the CDP. Unforuntately, in so doing, he runs against another good friend of mine, 58-county strategy supporter, outstanding progressive and head of our state blog Calitics, Brian Leubitz. My blogging loyalties are with Brian; my Southern California loyalties are with Eric. Choosing between them is like a parent picking favorites among their own children; I personally endorse them both and wish the best for each of them.

Whichever of them takes the seat, however, will need our full support in bringing the 58-county vision to the often entrenched mentality of the CDP.

For more on the leading Vice-Chair candidates, see their websites:
Eric Bauman
Brian Leubitz