Local Democrats soft underbelly exposed?
02/16/2012
“I don’t belong to any organized party. I’m a Democrat.” — Will Rogers
When voters decided in 2008 to end gerrymandering in California, it was a great endeavor. Citizens, rather than legislators, would redraw state assembly districts that would best represent their communities. In 2010, voters amended the law to include congressional districts as well. This year, the new districts have gone into effect despite a handful of conservative politicians asking the courts to consider other options. (The courts recently decided in favor of citizens, not legislators.)
For Ventura County residents, this was a fundamental game changer as the new district boundaries would no longer preserve the status quo that would get politicians elected time and time again. The most contested local seat is the former congressional district of 13-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, which now excludes much of Simi Valley and some of Ventura. Along with the shift in the district came a shift in demographics of party affiliations for the area, giving Democrats a fighting chance to win the coveted position for the first time in decades.
With the new district defined, the announcements of local Democratic candidates running for office came rolling in: Moorpark City Councilman David Pollock declared his intent to run in August, Westlake businessman David Cruz Thayne in October, Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett in November, Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera in January, and environmentalist and educator Akiva Werbalowsky of Ojai in February. Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, considered a moderate Republican but designated “undeclared” this election season, and Republican state senator Tony Strickland also threw their hats in the ring, although Strickland is so far the only candidate to have filed formal paperwork as of Valentine’s Day. (Stephen Schrader of Camarillo, Eileen Macenery of Newbury Park and Kimberly Rivers of Piru are also in the process of gathering of signatures to run for the seat. Richard Francis, co-author of the SOAR initiative is considering entering the race.)
There is much at stake now for area Democrats who have felt they lacked representation in D.C. In June 2010, California voters passed Proposition 14, the initiative that did away with partisan primaries and leaves only the two top vote-getters to battle it out in November. Because of the new law, there is no real shoo-in for the 26th Congressional District — especially now that Bennett, widely viewed as the front runner raising more than $241,000 for his campaign, has dropped out of the race to run instead for re-election as county supervisor. Some controversy had arisen when Pollock told local media that Bennett had promised to concede to him. Bennett announced last week at the latest California Democrats State Convention in San Diego that he was out of the race, stating that his heart remains in local politics.
As much as California voters want to be progressive and do away with partisan politics, too many still cling to their parties. With at least four Democrats in the race for the 26th District, there is a possibility that votes will be spread too thin among them, and Strickland and Parks may push the other candidates out of the race. With Bennett’s reputation at the county level and his Democratic party affiliation, he was the stronger candidate but it was a fight he wasn’t willing to get into.
Although we’re disappointed about Bennett’s withdrawal, we’re even more concerned about strengthening Tony Strickland’s potential, which, if he is elected, will more than likely lead to more of the same of what we saw under Gallegly’s leadership. We hope the local Democratic Party can organize in an efficient and effective manner and back one strong candidate to bolster a fair fight for a position that has long been seen as serving only a few.
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Comments
Tony Strickland's chances have only strengthened since Bennett dropped out. I am mystified by how it came about after people donated so much money. Nevertheless, this non-primary experiment may just be the springboard for the minority party in the district (Repubs) to gain a house seat in a Democratic district. It scares me a lot. We must be very careful with our votes this time. And candidates must be cognizant of the unintended consequesnces of their candidacy. In other words, Democrats, get a grip and think this one through!
There's now one true independent standing for election to Congress
Independent = agile, not restricted to status quo dysfunctions:
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/13/2...
Only one announced candidate best represents us, us all, in Congress, and it's not a career politician, party conflict junky, or campaign finance/marketing manipulator. You may have only one chance this year to support someone not beholden to any dysfunctional power, foreign or domestic. Tick tock...
Thank you-
Akiva Werbalowsky
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Akiva-for...
Willl Rogers and the VC Reporter have nailed it in this article!
And, as mentioned in the article, I did consider a run for Congress. However, at this point, I feel my experienc, strength and hop for 2012 is better directed toward being elected as the Democratic Assemblywoman for the 44th District of California.
And unlike the decidely complicated and difficult race in the 26th Congressional District, the current path is wide open for me to, not only be on the ballot in November, but to defeat Jeff Gorrell.
For decades the people of the US House 24th and the CA Assembly 37th (now the 26th and the 44th, respectively) have been under the dictatorial rule of a handful of right wing extremists who have controlled the Ventura County Republican Central Committee (VCRCC). I refer to Elton Gallegly, Tony and Audra Strickland, and now Jeff Gorrell, my opponent, who is the latest to be selected to be part of the dynasty.
When Jeff Gorrell decided to run for the Assembly seat in 2010, he already knew that it was very likely he would have a conflict of interest between his oath of office and his military commitment. However, his refusal to resign his seat, although technically "legal" is in my opinion unethical and tarnishes both of the solemn oaths that he has taken.
No one has every accused me of being "politically correct" and I know that by speaking out and exposing this conflict of interest, I am exposing myself to vicious personal attacks. (I am reminded of the fear and cowardice of the advisors and subjects in the story of the "Emperor's New Clothes.)
However, I can no longer remain silent about what I feel is an insult to Gorrell's constituents, whether they voted for him or not, who gave him the PRIVILEGE of serving us in Sacramento for his curent two year term.
Thus, if I am now known the first "politically DIRECT" candidate in Ventura County, then I will have achieved my goal, no matter what the final outcome in November.
Also, there is a certain "serendipity" in my decision to tackle the 44th Assembly seat in that the boundaries are almost identical with the eastern portion of Ventura County, which is the stronghold of Republicans Parks and Strickland, and will be the greatest challeng for Dems Thayne, Pollock, or whichever Democrat emerges as the leading candidate.
And, although I have my own thoughts about who will eventualy emerge as the one Dem candidate (could it be reminiscent of the Tortoise and the Hare?) I see myself as the natural "running mate" of that candidate in East Ventura County.
You will be hearing and seeing more of me in the next two weeks as I consolidate my campaign strategy and rapidly growing support in order to get on the ballot by March 9th.
(previous comment continued)
My immediate challenge is to secure the necessary funding to pay the approximately $3,000 required to "buy" a place on the June ballot. Once that is accomplished, my grassroots campaign will take off and I will be on my way to Sacramento in January 2013.
And, I absolutely reject the defeatist atitude that I need hundreds of thousands of dollars to win the confidence and support of the majority of voters in the 44th Congressional District in order to be one of the two candidates who advances and then wins in November.
We the People need to believe, and to act on the belief, that elective office is NOT the right of the wealthy and powerful, or an entitlement to be bestowed only on party loyalists by a few people in the central committee of a political party or political clubs.
Even more important is my rejection of the "speed bump" mentality which has plagued Democrats over the last thirty years in East Ventura County where no one thinks they could defeat Gallegly, the Stricklands or now, Jeff Gorrell. I speak of the attitude of another candidate who, upon announcing his candidacy in the VC Star, stated "...nobody will expect me to win." If that is his belief, then perhaps he should withdraw from th race, save his money, and throw his support behind a candidate who is "in it to win it".
I believe that, not only CAN I win, I believe that I WILL win, and I will do everything I can in the coming weeks and months to carry this message to my future constituents, especially those who want to give me the only endorsement that really matters, their votes in June and November.
For more information you can contact my campaign office at (805) 651-9161 or email EileenMacEnery@gmail.com.