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CA-26: Is NPP – No Party Preference a Passing Fad in California Elections?
Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks and Congressional candidate
Allen Hoffenblum, a ling time California political consultant, pundit and author asks the question.But the NPP candidate that will get the closest attention is Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who is running for Congress in an open district (CD26) where GOP state Sen. Tony Strickland and Democratic Asm. Julia Brownley are running (three other Democrats are also expected to be on the ballot).
Parks is a moderate Republican who has long feuded with the area’s hard-core conservative activists. In her Nov. 2010 race for reelection to the Board of Supervisors, Park’s opponent was former Asm. Audra Strickland, wife of Tony. Though both were registered Republicans, the state GOP got involved, donating $50,000 to the Audra Strickland campaign. Parks, however, won, 61% – 39%.
Statewide, independent voters – which the Secretary of State now labels as No Party Preference – comprise 21 percent of the electorate, just nine percent behind the Republican statewide registration of 30%.
How well Parks performs in the June Primary may well determine if state voters, in sufficient numbers, are ready to cast a vote for an individual without a political party label.
If she does well, along with continued increase in NPP registration and the continued decrease in GOP registration, the NPP label may evolve into being the serious “third party” alternative so many voters have been clamoring for.
Linda Parks has been really a Democrat cloaked in a Republican registration for many years. Parks supporters have always been from a anti-business, slow-growth populist constituency. She never before has run for a partisan office, nor one based out of her geographical base of Thousand Oaks.
When Parks beat former GOP Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, she beat a carpetbagger POL who had to move into the Ventura County Supervisorial District to challenge Parks. And, the incumbent supervisor had the overwhelming support of the Democrats and the Ventura County Public Employee Unions in the district.
A smaller (smaller than a Congressional District) Supervisorial District, a challenger who was absent from the district most of the time and who was from Moorpark (not Thousand Oaks, where all of the voters are) aided Parks in her re-election effort.
The top two and partisan June Primary election will be a whole different type of election.
The Democrats will have a candidate in Assemblywoman Julia Brownley and will throw resources behind her.
The Ventura County Employee Unions, a Democratic supporting constituency will have to stay either neutral or support both of them.
Campaign contributions for Parks will be harder to obtain ( Democrats and Republicans should tap more sources of special interest money) and she will need to communicate to other areas of the Congressional District – stretching campaign resources, especially to respond to attacks from the Dems and GOP.
I think Linda Parks will be lucky to be in the top two in June and go forward to the November general election.
But, she has surprised before….
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CA-26: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Re-Registers as Decline to State from Republican
Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks and Congressional candidate
Today, Linda Parks re-registered her voting affiliation from Republican to Declined to State.Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who is running for Congress in California’s 26th District, was expected at noon Wednesday to re-register at the county’s elections division and “decline to state” a party affiliation, which in Californa is the same as being independent.
Parks said in a written statement that she identifies more with the center of American life than with the far left or right and that she’s taking this step to give her more flexibility in bringing partisan interests together.
“I believe Republicans and Democrats need to work together and, if elected, I will work with fellow Congressional members regardless of party,” she said. ““Congress is broken and we need to end the partisan extremism to effectively govern, fix the economy and create jobs.”
Parks has also pledged to not accept money from PACs, unions, parties or major corporations.
I just saw a tweet, broadcasting that she is now “independent.” Well, actually, she is partially correct.
Parks has declined to state a political party preference and can use that to list herself on the congressional ballot as “no party preference.” Otherwise, she would have to be designated as a Republican.
So, here are the candidates in the race (filing ends on March 9):
- Republican California State Senator Tony Strickland
- No Party Preference Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks
- Democrat Moorpark Councilman David Pollock
- Democrat Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera
- Democrat Westlake Village businessman David Cruz Thayne
- Libertarian/Republican Akiva Werbalowsky
- Democrat Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
Will Park’s registration move, make any difference in this race?
Probably not, since the Democratic Party who has backed Parks in non-partisan races for Thousand Oaks City Council and Ventura County Supervisors will have their own “establishment” candidate in Julia Brownley. Also, with Parks declaration that she will not accept PAC or political party campaign cash, she will be hampered as to the amount of advertising that will be purchased by both Brownley and Strickland.
Linda Parks will try to portray herself as an “independent” to try to win a “top two” spot in the June primary election. But, she will be up against two “oiled” political machines.
Who will attack Parks first?
The Democrats or the Republicans?
Stay tuned…..
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CA-26: Democrat Rep Brad Sherman is OUT and Assemblywoman Julia Brownley Is IN
California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
Well, the rumors have born some fruit with California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley announcing over the long President’s Holiday weekend that she will run for Congress. Rep. Brad Sherman had coincidentally announced that he was remaining in CA-30 to duke it out with fellow Democrat Rep. Howard Berman for that Congressional seat.Brownley lives in Santa Monica, but told Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star that she would rent an apartment in Oak Park (unincorporated, Ventura County, but in CA-26) yesterday.
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, stepping in after Supervisor Steve Bennett dropped out last week, said Sunday she will be a Democratic candidate in Ventura County’s new 26th Congressional District.
Brownley, who lives in Santa Monica, has represented much of Ventura County in the Assembly for the past five years. Her district includes Port Hueneme, about half of Oxnard, Westlake Village and Oak Park — areas that make up about 16 percent of the congressional district.
Brownley said she will move to an apartment in Oak Park this week.
Most, if not all of CA-26 is in Ventura County and Democrat Brownley, while she represented Oxnard and Port Hueneme in the California Assembly is from Santa Monica in Los Angeles County. Her carpetbagger status (renting an apartment, in order to run for office in the Congressional District – although federal law allows non-resident candidacy, in any case) will be an issue.
With Ventura County Supervisor Steve benefit precipitously withdrawing from the race, there was a Democratic Party void (i.e. a well known Democratic POL candidate) and apparently Brownley will fill it.
Now, whether Brownley can beat Thousand Oaks based Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks and/or Republican California State Senator Tony Strickland in the June primary election (remember the top two advance to the November general election) is another story. Plus, there are other Democrats in the race which may dilute the Democratic vote.
Here are all of the candidates – so far (filing opened Monday, February 13 and will close on March 9):
- Republican California State Senator Tony Strickland
- Independent/Republican Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks
- Democrat Moorpark Councilman David Pollock
- Democrat Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera
- Democrat Westlake Village businessman David Cruz Thayne
- Libertarian/Republican Akiva Werbalowsky
- Democrat California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
Tony Strickland remains the front-runner in this race.
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CA-26: Steve Bennett’s Change of Mind Forcing a Change in Linda Park’s Independent Campaign Plans
We learned over the weekend at the State Democratic Convention in San Diego that Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett changed his mind and would not run for Congress. Instead he will run for re-election to the Ventura County Supervisors.
So, who is left in the CA-26 race (filing opened yesterday and will close on March 9).
- Republican California State Senator Tony Strickland
- Independent/Republican Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks
- Democrat Moorpark Councilman David Pollock
- Democrat Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera
- Democrat Westlake Village businessman David Cruz Thayne
- Libertarian/Republican Akiva Werbalowsky
It has also been rumored that Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, a Democrat, who represents most of Oxnard and Port Hueneme is also looking at the race.
And, I maintain that ultimately (by the ninth anyway), Rep. Brad Sherman who is in a contentious race against Rep Howard Berman will move from CA-30 in the San Fernando Valley out to Ventura County.
But, what about Linda Parks, the Ventura County Supervisor who while a registered Republican says she wants to run an “independent or bipartisan” campaign? Here she is saying such at her announcement:
This was all good and as Timm Herdt over at the Ventura County Star points out – Parks had the best of both worlds. She could be a “registered” Republican yet be designated on the ballot that she did not identify with either party – in other words she was an independent.
But, the election law changed Monday – just in time for the opening of the filing period.
So, Steve Bennett’s withdrawal has shaken up Linda Park’s plans. Parks will either have to change her registration to “Decline to State,” from Republican or be listed as “prefers Republican Party on the ballot.”
Guess we will find out soon – at least by the 9th of March.
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CA-26: Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett Out as Candidate for Congress
No big surprise to me since Bennett was rumored to be getting an inordinate amount of pressure from the Ventura County Public Employee Unions to stay in his safe Ventura county Supervisor District. Filing today for Congress, I believe opens today.A top Democratic recruit for the swing 26th Congressional District shocked supporters Saturday by dropping out of the race, one day after party leaders touted his race as a top pick-up opportunity.
Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett, who was the top candidate for a pre-primary endorsement recommendation, announced during the state Democratic Party Convention in San Diego that he will drop his congressional candidacy to run for re-election to the Board of Supervisors.
So, now will Rep. Brad Sherman jump into this race?
Or, will Democrats coalesce around Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks? Might Parks re-register as a Democrat?
My bet is that Rep. Brad Sherman takes a real hard look at this race.
The remaining announced candidates are Republican California State Senator Tony Strickland, Independent/Republican Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, Democrat Moorpark Councilman David Pollock, Democrat Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera, Democrat Westlake Village businessman David Cruz Thayne and Libertarian/Republican Akiva Werbalowsky.
There is also a rumor that California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, a Democrat, who represents most of Oxnard and Port Hueneme is also looking at the race.
Filing closes March 9, so stay tuned.
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CA-26: Ventura County Republican Party Endorses Tony Strickland for Congress
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.
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Update: CA-26 Video: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Issues Two Challenges
Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks announced her candidacy for Congress last Saturday at Freedom Park in Camarillo, CaliforniaGo 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.
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CA-26 Video: Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks Issues Two Challenges
Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks announced her candidacy for Congress last Saturday at Freedom Park in Camarillo, CaliforniaGo 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.
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CA-26: California State Senator Tony Strickland to Run for Congress
Republican State Senator Tony Strickland and wife Audra, a former California Assemblywoman
I was actually informed about this announcement a number of days ago, but was asked to embargo the announcement until Monday. Obviously, there was a change of plans to “leak” the announcement by the Strickland Campaign.
So, here is the announcement.Sen. Tony Strickland, who represents western portions of the Santa Clarita Valley in the California Senate, has scheduled a press conference to announce his candidacy for Congress.
Strickland’s campaign announcement is calendared for Tuesday morning, Jan. 17, at the Aviation Museum in Camarillo.
I don’t why there is a hurry to announce, but it could be that politics in Ventura County is becoming like musical chairs. The filing deadline is March 9.
First, there is the rumor that Democrat Rep. Brad Sherman will move to run in the new CA-26. This will avoid a nasty June primary election against Democrat Rep. Howard Berman.
Then, there is former Democratic Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg who has said (more or less) that he is running in Tony Strickland’s California State Senate District where another Democrat State Senator Fran Pavley (Agoura Hills) will be the incumbent.
So, Strickland will announce, but I hear that local Republicans are worried that Strickland might not be able to beat Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks who is going to run as an independent (where in the past she has been a registered Republican). Some have suggested that Parks may re-register as a Democrat.
Other sources have told me that the Ventura County Public Employee Unions are pressuring Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett to drop out of his previously announced decision to run in CA-26.
The unions and local Democrats are worried that Republican Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper would easily win Bennett’s seat, should Bennett vacate it to run for Congress. I guess the LEFT wants to protect Bennett’s seat and he has the campaign cash to do so. So, will Bennett withdraw?
In talking to a number of Republican and Democratic activists, it is clear that nobody is happy with the previously speculated big three candidacies of Strickland, Parks and Bennett.
I would not be surprised to see Rep. Brad Sherman to take a look at this race and I have heard Republicans are talking to Michael Reagan, the son of the former President.
So, it is all complicated. Plus, add in four other candidates (including two Hispanic Democrats from Oxnard) and the top two election system.
This race is going to be a whirlwind…..
Stay tuned….
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CA-26: Rep Elton Gallegly to Retire – Tony Strickland, Steve Bennett and Linda Parks to Run
I was in Santa Fe, New Mexico at a funeral when I received notice that long-time Republican Congressman and friend, Elton Gallegly was releasing that he was retiring.
When I was at Elton’s home a few weeks ago, I received the impression that this would be Elton’s choice. He did outlay the scenarios of re-election strategy, but I could see that his interests were elsewhere. He wants to start a new phase of his life – outside the Congress.
And, who can blame him?
Now, who will seek the seat?
California State Senator Tony Strickland a conservative Republican has informally announced his candidacy, along with Democrat Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett (Ventura Ojai). Moderate Republican Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks who represents the Thousand Oaks and Oak Park area has also informally announced her candidacy.
Plus, there are some other lesser known Democrats: business man David Cruz-Thayne and Moorpark City Council member David Pollock.
Remember the June primary election will be a top two process – whether it be Democrats or Republicans. Therefore, it is possible that the two Republicans Linda Parks and Tony Strickland could be running in the November general election.
There will be a lot more later, since this seat will be one of the few contested California Congressional races this cycle.