Dear Region 10 Delegates and Central Committee members;

Today, June 8th, the California Primary is exactly one year away. This is surely the time to concentrate on setting up Candidates Committees, Voter Registration Task Forces and Field Operations so that everything is in place and leadership designated to take advantage of the trainings on offer. I have been putting together an inventory of training materials, so please contact me for specific manuals and materials.

Foremost is the great weekend ahead for San Luis Obispo County with the Progressive Caucus meeting on Saturday June 27th and the long-awaited CDC Leadership training for Sunday June 28th.

Also, not to be missed are the two Region 10 meetings on June 13th and 14th when you have an opportunity to introduce Resolutions in time for consideration by the E-Board meeting in Burlingame on July 17th and 18th. (I apologise for the short notice – I was trying to schedule a meeting in Santa Maria, but it was not to be.)

I continue to enjoy meeting with other clubs and attending events – most recently, the Santa Maria club meeting and the 41st AD meeting as well as Central Committee meetings and the very successful Ventura County Spring Fling, with speeches from Attorney General candidates Pedro Nava, Ted Lieu and Alberto Torrico as well as Congresswoman Lois Capps, State Senator Fran Pavley and former Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson. And a very special visit Sunday was to the Atascadero Democrats’ event in a winery in perfect weather in glorious countryside. Well worth the long drive!

Sincerely,
Sue Broidy
Director, Region 10

The Democratic Club of Ventura (DCV) is a political organization for registered Democrats. The Club meets monthly and every meeting includes discussion of political issues, elections, candidates, and subjects of importance to the Democratic, Progressive and Independent community. The meetings also provide social and business networking opportunities. The Club also hosts seminars, lectures and training programs on a variety of topics. Information on our programs is available on this website under the Calendar.

The DCV meets at 6:30 pm on the fourth Thursday of most months. The club’s normal meeting location is the Topping Room in E.P. Foster Library. The library is located in downtown Ventura at 651 E. Main Street, on the north side of the street, between Chestnut and Fir. There is parking on the street in front of the library and public parking lots surround the library as well. Parking is free.

There is a pre-meeting social that starts at 6:00 pm in the same location and a post-meeting social that usually takes place at Winchester’s, the bar and restaurant across the street from the library, starting around 9:00 pm.

Meetings are held from January through October on the fourth Thursday of the month. The November meeting falls on Thanksgiving and is generally rescheduled for a different date. In December the regular meeting is replaced with a holiday party held on a weekend.

2009/2010 Officers:

President: Sandra Kinsler – SKinsler @ VenturaCountyDemocrats.com
Vice-President: Helen Conly – ConlyHelen @ yahoo.com
Secretary: Sherry Cash
Treasurer: Sanford Bothman
Publicity: Brian Leshon – BLeshon @ VenturaCountyDemocrats.com
Hospitality: Anthea Adams
Phone Tree: Tom Jones

Phone: 805-641-2400
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6492, Ventura CA 93006-6492

Dues: $20 per year donation for an individual
$35 per year donation for a family
Meetings are always free.

Paid for by the Democratic Club of Ventura.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

The 37th Assembly District elected 6 women and 6 men to 2-year terms as members of the California state central committee and delegates to the state conventions.  The election drew a crowd of about 150 people from the assembly district.  Winners of the election:  Joan Adams, Jody Avery-Smith, Debbie Birenbaum, Sue Boloorchi, Roni Flowers, Kim Stephenson, William Carter, David Maron,  Sean Keenan, Ron Adams, Cleo Navarro, & Paul Markowitz. William Carter was elected as the representative to the executive board.  Jay Kapitz was elected from the 41st Assembly District.

Title:   41st Assembly District Delegate Election
Location:   Topanga Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga

Date:   Saturday, January 10, 2009
Registration Starts:   10:00 AM
Meeting Starts:   12:00 noon
Fee:   $5 per person

Link:   Pre-register at www.cadem.org

Description:   All Democrats registered before the close of registration for the Nov 2008 election (October 20) are invited to attend the 41st Assembly District Delegate Election meeting and vote between 10 AM and noon.  You may just vote and leave immediately if you choose.

DCCV member Jay Kapitz is the only Ventura County candidate running and that is a big disadvantage so he really needs your help.  You can vote if you were a registered Democrat in the November 2008 election and live in the 41st Assembly District.  The district is huge and includes the following:  Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village (LA County part), Hidden Hills, Topanga, Oxnard (part), Port Hueneme, Calabasas, Malibu, Santa Monica, Pacific Palasades, Encino (part), Tarzana (part) and Woodland Hills (part).  Please forward this information to your friends who live in these areas.

Title: Democratic Club of Camarillo
Location: Orchid Building, UFCW Hall 816 Camarillo Springs Road Camarillo
Link out: Click here
Description: GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, January 8, 7:00 p.m.

Ventura County Democrats – Who We Are and Where We’re Going!

Featuring Ventura County Democrats who make a difference:

Joe O’Neill, Chair of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee [VCDCC]
on the gains in 2008 and plans for 2009 and the 2010 Gubernatorial Election

Brian Leshon, Chair VCDCC Communications Committee
on how to use technology to increase the interest and visibility of the Democratic Party

Carolyn Crandall, Obama Campaign Volunteer
on the work in Ventura County to elect Obama, and the future of the Obama campaign

Helen Conly, Vote Blue-Central Coast Organizer on the goals to increase voter registration and the plans for the Ventura County Jack and Bobby Kennedy dinner

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-01-08
End Time: 21:00

Assembly member Audra Strickland’s chief of staff Joel Angeles will go on trial Feb. 6 for actions that occurred June 17 outside a Westlake fundraiser for Tony Strickland’s State Senate campaign. According to the Ventura County Star, Angeles failed to appear at his arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The State Attorney General’s Office has filed a complaint in Ventura County Superior Court against Joel Angeles on four counts: interference with civil rights (involving Louis Pandolfi of Simi Valley); battery causing serious bodily injury (involving Jack Phillips of Camarillo); battery (involving Pandolfi); and battery (involving Sandy Quiring of Simi Valley).

These incidents allegedly occurred against three people who were among more than 50 gathered to protest the acceptance of more than $130,000 in direct and indirect campaign contributions from the tobacco industry for Tony Strickland. Strickland was set to appear with Gov. Mitt Romney at an event inside the Westlake Hyatt hotel.

Phillips, a 67-year-old Episcopalian minister, was allegedly knocked to the ground by Angeles, a long-time Strickland aide, and later underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Angeles could serve a year in jail for each offense, and while he could work out a plea bargain arrangement, the civil rights complaint will make it harder to do so. The charges were carefully crafted to open the door for a civil lawsuit as well as restitution.

No doubt forces were at work throughout the election season to keep the politically charged story under wraps. And the file seemingly languished on Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten’s desk for an eternity before he recused himself and passed it up to the State Attorney General’s office.

Despite the sensitive nature of his office, Totten actively campaigned for Tony Strickland and appeared in mailers sent to voters. The recusal was certainly warranted.

Much controversy has surrounded this incident. Having a neutral judge and jury decide the outcome is the best course.

Assembly member Audra Strickland’s chief of staff Joel Angeles will go on trial Feb. 6 for actions that occurred June 17 outside a Westlake fundraiser for Tony Strickland’s State Senate campaign. According to the Ventura County Star, Angeles failed to appear at his arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The State Attorney General’s Office has filed a complaint in Ventura County Superior Court against Joel Angeles on four counts: interference with civil rights (involving Louis Pandolfi of Simi Valley); battery causing serious bodily injury (involving Jack Phillips of Camarillo); battery (involving Pandolfi); and battery (involving Sandy Quiring of Simi Valley).

These incidents allegedly occurred against three people who were among more than 50 gathered to protest the acceptance of more than $130,000 in direct and indirect campaign contributions from the tobacco industry for Tony Strickland. Strickland was set to appear with Gov. Mitt Romney at an event inside the Westlake Hyatt hotel.

Phillips, a 67-year-old Episcopalian minister, was allegedly knocked to the ground by Angeles, a long-time Strickland aide, and later underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Angeles could serve a year in jail for each offense, and while he could work out a plea bargain arrangement, the civil rights complaint will make it harder to do so. The charges were carefully crafted to open the door for a civil lawsuit as well as restitution.

No doubt forces were at work throughout the election season to keep the politically charged story under wraps. And the file seemingly languished on Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten’s desk for an eternity before he recused himself and passed it up to the State Attorney General’s office.

Despite the sensitive nature of his office, Totten actively campaigned for Tony Strickland and appeared in mailers sent to voters. The recusal was certainly warranted.

Much controversy has surrounded this incident. Having a neutral judge and jury decide the outcome is the best course.