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Again, an endorsement like this by the Ventura County Republican Party would never have occurred in year’s past, but like with the California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro, California Proposition 14 allows for this endorsement.

This will definitely be an advantage for Tony Strickland over any other Republican who either enters or is already in the race (Ventura county Supervisor Linda Parks, is a registered Republican).

From the press release:

The Ventura County Republican Party Central Committee unanimously voted Wednesday night to endorse State Senator Tony Strickland for California’s newly drawn 26th Congressional District.

“There is no better choice to represent Ventura County in Congress than Tony Strickland,” said Ventura County Republican Party Chairman Mike Osborn, noting the unanimity of the endorsement vote. “Tony is the clear choice for Ventura County families concerned about the economy and the runaway spending in Washington. We stand united behind his campaign because of Tony’s record of distinguished service to our community. We’re proud to endorse his campaign for Congress.”

The Ventura County Republican Party joins California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro in endorsing Strickland.

California State Senator Tony Strickland will now identify himself as the ONLY Republican endorsed by both the California Republican Party Chairman and the County Republican Central Committee.

Now, it will be up to Linda Parks to decide whether to run as a Republican or as an independent. Of course, she could always re-register as a Democrat.

In year’s past, this pre-primary election endorsement would never have occurred. But, under California Proposition 14′s Top Two system, this is allowed.

California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro announced Wednesday his endorsement of state Sen. Tony Strickland in the campaign for California’s newly drawn 26th Congressional District.

“I’ve known Tony for a long time, and there is no one who can represent this community better than him,” Del Beccaro said. “He has a distinguished record of service to Ventura County families and will make a fantastic representative in Congress. We desperately need more people in Washington, D.C., willing to stand up for fiscal discipline and our shared values. I’m proud to endorse Tony Strickland for Congress.”

Del Beccaro’s endorsement of Strickland is his first of the election cycle.

“I’m humbled and grateful to have the support of Chairman Del Beccaro in this race,” Strickland said. “He’s been a tremendous advocate for responsible fiscal policy and a fantastic chairman.”

So far, California State Senator Tony Strickland is the ONLY “declared” Republican in the field for the California Congressional District 26 which is primarily in Ventura County. Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks of Thousand Oaks is a registered Republican but has said she may run as an independent ballot designation.

There are five other presumed candidates in this race – all of the remainder are Democrats: Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Jess Herrera, Moorpark City Councilman David Pollock, retired longshoreman Zeke Ruelas of Oxnard and businessman David Cruz Thayne of Westlake Village.

Go ahead, watch the video above and listen to the two challenges that Linda Parks gives to her challengers and the voting public.

I say good luck with that, when traditionally races for Congress have been very partisan and very expensive affairs.

A race for a highly contested Congressional District is NOT a local City Council or County Supervisor which are NON-Partisan and mainly low key races.

It is interesting that Parks who is a registered Republican, but is unclear whether she will run as one as designated on the June 2012 primary ballot, did not mention her opponents – all six of them (Democrats and Republicans a like).

By the way, when Parks beat former California Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (wife of California State Senator Tony Strickland, who has already announced for CA-26) in her 2010 re-election race for Supervisor, I received quite a few mail pieces in my mailbox and somebody paid for those. Parks knows how to campaign and will raise and spend campaign cash like the rest of the POLS.

Has anyone seen Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett lately? It has been rumored that he will withdraw from the race and support Parks at the behest of Ventura County Public employee unions.

Update:

Steve Bennett is now reporting $240K in political contributions and a California Democratic Party Pre-Endorsement Conference win.

With Republican Tony Strickland reporting over $300K in contributions on his first day, this is not a good sign for Linda Parks. Also, it shows that the rumor Bennett would get out of the race, maybe just a rumor.

Why is this important?

Scott Lay lays it out and how the laundering operation works for both Republicans and Democrats.

Tony Strickland, who recently decided to run for congress rather than re-election to the state senate has unusual support from the Republican Party 300 miles away in Stanislaus County. Unusual, that is, unless you know California’s campaign finance laws. In general in this cycle, donors to state candidates are limited to $7,800 ($3,900 each for the primary and general). However, donors can give $32,500 the state accounts of party county central committees, and spread it to several counties. In turn, party central committees wash the money and can give it in unlimited amounts to candidates.

Both parties use this laundering method, which was knowingly written into Prop. 34, so please don’t take this as an attack on Tony or Stanislaus RCC. However, it’s a mockery of state contribution limits.

The funny thing is that Strickland cannot use his state account for his federal Congressional run. Reportedly, Strickland will be returning some state account contributions to donors.

But, who is to say these donors will not turn around and cut new checks to Strickland’s FEC regulated CA-26 campaign account?

In any case, this illustrates a loophole in the law and why the supposed California campaign finance reform law, really is a crock.

How about unlimited contributions with instant internet dosclosure when the check, say over $1,000, is cashed?

Nahhhh, too simple.

From the press release:

One day after he launched his campaign for Congress, State Senator Tony Strickland announced that he has raised $317,915 in his first day as a candidate for the newly drawn 26th Congressional District.

“I’m running for Congress because it’s time to put an end to politics as usual that has left too many in Ventura County worrying about their future,” said Strickland. “I’m honored that so many are uniting behind our campaign to create more jobs and opportunities for every citizen.”

The funds raised to date come from a diverse community of supporters including small business owners, community leaders, and working families throughout the Congressional District.

“I’m humbled that so many have joined me in this effort in just one day,” concluded Strickland.

The total of $317,915 in one day alone would place Strickland among the top funded Congressional candidates the country for the previous three-month quarter. Noteworthy about the influx of financial support is that none of the contributions reflect transfers of any kind from Strickland’s state senate campaign account and only represent new financial contributors.

Not a bad first day of fundraising at all.

But, remember that Democrat Rep. Brad Sherman who is rumored looking at this Congressional District has over $3.5 Million already in the bank.

There is little doubt that this contested race will be very expensive and in the multi-millions of dollars expended when the dust clears in November.

California State Senator Tony Strickland is in the race for CA-26.

From the press release: 

Surrounded by family and supporters, State Senator Tony Strickland today announced his campaign for Congress in an event at the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum.

I remember the most important lesson my father taught me: that it’s the duty for every generation to leave their community in a better place than they found it, said Strickland. And that’s why I’m asking to become your next Congressman.

I expect the campaign ahead to be spirited but I’m committed to uniting our community; Republicans, Democrats, and Independents behind policies that create jobs and economic opportunity for those struggling to make ends meet.

Strickland also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong national defense and developing alternative energy sources.

Send me to Congress, and I’ll stand up to those who want to weaken our military and threaten our defense related jobs, he continued.

Dependence on foreign energy sources makes our energy prices vulnerable and too reliant on unstable and sometimes hostile foreign regimes. We can no longer afford to fund both sides of a war. Energy independence is truly a national security issue, he added.

Strickland announced at the Aviation Museum at the Camarillo Airport before a group of 100 or so supporters and Ventura County political activists. He joins previously announced candidates, Ventura County Supervisors Steve Bennett and Linda Parks, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Jess Herrera, Moorpark City Councilman David Pollock, retired longshoreman Zeke Ruelas of Oxnard and businessman David Cruz Thayne of Westlake Village.

The seat is being vacated by long-time incumbent Congressman Elton Gallegly who has announced his retirement.

California State Senator Tony Strickland is in the race for CA-26.

From the press release:

Surrounded by family and supporters, State Senator Tony Strickland today announced his campaign for Congress in an event at the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum.

“I remember the most important lesson my father taught me: that it’s the duty for every generation to leave their community in a better place than they found it,” said Strickland. “And that’s why I’m asking to become your next Congressman.

I expect the campaign ahead to be spirited but I’m committed to uniting our community; Republicans, Democrats, and Independents behind policies that create jobs and economic opportunity for those struggling to make ends meet.”

Strickland also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong national defense and developing alternative energy sources.

“Send me to Congress, and I’ll stand up to those who want to weaken our military and threaten our defense related jobs,” he continued.

“Dependence on foreign energy sources makes our energy prices vulnerable and too reliant on unstable and sometimes hostile foreign regimes. We can no longer afford to fund both sides of a war. Energy independence is truly a national security issue,” he added.

Strickland announced at the Aviation Museum at the Camarillo Airport before a group of 100 or so supporters and Ventura County political activists. He joins previously announced candidates, Ventura County Supervisors Steve Bennett and Linda Parks, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Jess Herrera, Moorpark City Councilman David Pollock, retired longshoreman Zeke Ruelas of Oxnard and businessman David Cruz Thayne of Westlake Village.

The seat is being vacated by long-time incumbent Congressman Elton Gallegly who has announced his retirement.

I will have video of the announcement later in the afternoon.