Jim Dantona Campaign Update

Jim Dantona is running for Ventura County Clerk against Tea Party supporter Mark Lunn.  Jim spoke at the Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley on May 12 and spelled out the strategy against him:  Keep the Democrats home, Democrats won’t bother to vote.  The tens of millions of dollars spent by Whitman and Poisner has got the Republicans riled up and ready to vote.  Where will the Dems be?  Jim encouraged all Democrats to send urgent email alerts to 20 friends to put them on notice that:

1. The June 8th election is not a primary but the same as a general election in the case of the County Clerk race since there are only two candidates and one will be declared a winner on June 8th.

2. Jim wants to use improved technology in order to reduce the time it takes to count absentee ballots - currently as long as three weeks after the election.  Jim has already identified certain vote counting machines that are at issue.

3. Jim want to implement the findings of two grand jury investigations that found deficiencies in how your votes are being counted or possibly not being counted.

4. Jim’s opponent has no specific plan for fixing the vote counting system.  He says he wants to study it once he is elected.

More information about Jim Dantona for County Clerk can be found at www.jimdantona.com.

NON-PARTISAN RACES

Let’s face it – four years ago the County Republican Party spent lots of money in the non-partisan Board of Supervisors race to defeat Democrat Jim Dantona over Republican Peter Foy. Non-partisan elections came out of the closet so to speak. We have always said that we should use local non-partisan races to help develop future legislators. And some of us hard core Democrats have said “there are no non-partisan offices.” What the Republicans did in 2006 is only a small prelude to what could happen now. This June two county, non-partisan, elected offices are open with no incumbent running: Ventura County Clerk Recorder, a very important position that oversees the Elections Division, and Treasurer Tax Collector, equally as important. Remember Treasurer Tax collector is the position that Audra Strickland wanted. Democrats have a rare opportunity to get like-minded, non-partisan office holders elected. We might not have the money the other side has, but we have the numbers. Now getting out the vote becomes more important than ever. For a county office 51% of the vote must be obtained to avoid a run off election. Run off elections mean that more money has to be raised and much more work has to be done. That’s why June is so important.  If Democrats can sew this one up in June we have more time to concentrate on partisan races in November. At our April meeting we will be inviting all Democrats running for non-partisan office to come and speak to us. I hope you will attend to show them support and encouragement.
Bill Gallaher, President

Ventura, CA – Thursday night, 3/25/2010 The Democratic Club of Ventura and Ventura County Democratic Party presented “2010 Democratic Candidate Town Hall” at the Topping Room, E.P Foster Library, 651 Main Street, Downtown.

Forty-five people attended the town hall meeting hosted by Helen Conly, Vice President and event coordinator. The program opened with political consultant and local software business creator David Maron, who was emcee.

Sheriff hopeful, Geoff Dean assured the audience that “political persuasion or party won’t be the catalyst behind him giving out future arrests. Criminality is not parceled out by whether or not you are a republican”, said the avowed Republican candidate.
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Written questions from the audience were also asked by Maron.

Next was Ferial Masry with a fifteen-minute presentation. Masry expressed the need for California, the 6th largest economy in the world, to strive to become the state where business owners create products and services that can be used globally, to educate and prepare our students to be the 21st century work force instead of going to foreign countries and to reconsider green initiatives that supplement sustainable energy resources and careers.

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The 37th Assembly District includes the following cities: Acton, Agua Dulce, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Castaic, Chatsworth, Fillmore, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak View, Ojai, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Somis, Thousand Oaks, Val Verde, West Hills, and Westlake Village.

As opposed to prior advertising, the program wasn’t televised although some of the content was captured by Todd Hoover a videographer from the Santa Clarita area.

Other participants were Ed Summers and Peggy O’Reilly, both running for Treasurer; Jim Dantona, running for County Clerk. For more information regarding the 2-1/2 hour town hall see: http://www.youtube.com/user/crazycatherder#p/u

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.”

Ventura, CA, Arnulfo “AC” Carbajal announced today that after careful consideration, he has decided to withdraw from the race for County Clerk/Recorder and endorse Jim Dantona.

Carbajal explained that he was motivated to run for County Clerk/Recorder in late 2009 after he saw that the only declared candidate lacked the non-partisanship necessary to effectively run the county’s elections office.  Carbajal described his motivation for running: “Every candidate and every voter must trust the integrity of the elections office and must be 100% certain that the person responsible for elections is independent.  In good conscience, I could not sit by and let an officer in the Republican party take control of this office without voters having a choice.”

AC Carbajal is a registered Democrat but has never served on the central committee or in any position within the party and has never raised funds for either party.  He has always believed and acted independently of either party.

Carbajal went on to explain his reasons for stepping aside.  “When Jim Dantona entered this race, I investigated his experience and credentials much like I investigated Mark Lunn.  Jim Dantona has never served on any party central committee and has truly been an independent voice in Ventura County politics.  In addition, Dantona has excellent experience in elections, management and serving the community.  When I realized that we shared a deep respect for independent elections, I decided that the stakes were too high to have three candidates in this race.  For these reasons, I have decided to step aside and support Jim Dantona.  I intend to work hard for him and for the people of Ventura County to elect the most independent person in this race who will best protect taxpayer dollars.

Jim Dantona is an independent small businessman who runs a legislative and governmental consulting firm.  An dedicated youth advocate, community leader and philanthropist, he founded Baseballers Against Drugs in1989, helping over 60,000 young people to fight drugs and gangs and stay in school. The organization was awarded the 2003 Volunteer Organization of the Year and Dantona was honored by the FBI with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

“I am honored to have AC Carbajal standing beside me in this race,” states Dantona.  “We are both passionate about protecting the American democratic process as we have both seen examples in the county of Election Day mistakes, needless delays of election results and poor investments of our hard-earned tax dollars,  With AC’s help, I will fight for a county-wide voter outreach while working to prevent voter fraud.”

Ventura, CA, Arnulfo “AC” Carbajal announced today that after careful consideration, he has decided to withdraw from the race for County Clerk/Recorder and endorse Jim Dantona.

Carbajal explained that he was motivated to run for County Clerk/Recorder in late 2009 after he saw that the only declared candidate lacked the non-partisanship necessary to effectively run the county’s elections office.  Carbajal described his motivation for running: “Every candidate and every voter must trust the integrity of the elections office and must be 100% certain that the person responsible for elections is independent.  In good conscience, I could not sit by and let an officer in the Republican party take control of this office without voters having a choice.”

AC Carbajal is a registered Democrat but has never served on the central committee or in any position within the party and has never raised funds for either party.  He has always believed and acted independently of either party.

Carbajal went on to explain his reasons for stepping aside.  “When Jim Dantona entered this race, I investigated his experience and credentials much like I investigated Mark Lunn.  Jim Dantona has never served on any party central committee and has truly been an independent voice in Ventura County politics.  In addition, Dantona has excellent experience in elections, management and serving the community.  When I realized that we shared a deep respect for independent elections, I decided that the stakes were too high to have three candidates in this race.  For these reasons, I have decided to step aside and support Jim Dantona.  I intend to work hard for him and for the people of Ventura County to elect the most independent person in this race who will best protect taxpayer dollars.

Jim Dantona is an independent small businessman who runs a legislative and governmental consulting firm.  An dedicated youth advocate, community leader and philanthropist, he founded Baseballers Against Drugs in1989, helping over 60,000 young people to fight drugs and gangs and stay in school. The organization was awarded the 2003 Volunteer Organization of the Year and Dantona was honored by the FBI with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

“I am honored to have AC Carbajal standing beside me in this race,” states Dantona.  “We are both passionate about protecting the American democratic process as we have both seen examples in the county of Election Day mistakes, needless delays of election results and poor investments of our hard-earned tax dollars,  With AC’s help, I will fight for a county-wide voter outreach while working to prevent voter fraud.”

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.