• Tony Strickland

    Photos: Tony Strickland Sworn Into the California State Senate

    tonystrickland sworn into senate

    Former California Assemblyman Tony Strickland sworn into the California State Senate, Monday, December 1, 2008. Photo By Mallory Misare.

    Tony Strickland was sworn into the California State Senate (District 19, including Thousand Oaks) on Monday and here are some photos of the ceremony.

    tony strickland swearing in ceremony

    Photo By Mallory Misare

    Tony Strickland at swearing in ceremony

    Tony Strickland and Kevin Korenthal

    Tony Strickland and swering in ceremony

    Tony Strickland and Isaak. Photo by Mallory Misare

    Team Tony Strickland at swearing in ceremony

    Team Strickland: Stephanie Breed, Mallory Misare, Mitch Miller, Sean Paroski (photos), Keith Paterson, Scott Wilk

    Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star has a piece up this morning outlining the shoe leather beat Tony Strickland inflicted on Hannah-Beth Jackson.

    The spasm of spending in this fall’s $10 million 19th Senate District campaign purchased many things: an avalanche of mail, a brigade of consultants, a squadron of pollsters and enough television advertising to launch a new brand of shampoo.

    But, in the end, the decisive difference may have been something as inexpensive as shoe leather.

    Republican Tony Strickland was sworn in this week as the district’s new senator, the prize for winning what was not only the most expensive campaign in California this fall but also the state’s closest election.

    Strickland appeared skinny, almost gaunt. He had the look of someone who had survived a physical ordeal that had brought him nearly to the point of exhaustion. “I did a lot of walking,” he explained.

    I asked Strickland whether he had knocked on every door in the Santa Clarita neighborhoods that are part of his district. After a thoughtful pause, he answered: “I believe I did.”

    Having observed the Tony Strickland campaign for months, Flap can vouch that Tony Strickland took nothing for granted, worked very hard, and walked the precincts. Strickland knew he had to turn out his GOP base in order to beat Jackson in a very tough Democrat, Barack Obama turn-out year.

    The goal was to turn out all of the Republican voteres in the district (which has a slight GOP registration edge) and a few more. The few more were located in a slight sliver of the district located in Santa Clarita.

    Going into the 2008 campaign, Strickland knew that he would be in for a tough race, and he knew that in order to win, he needed to capitalize on the Republicans’ Santa Clarita advantage.

    The Los Angeles County portion of the district included only 7 percent of the district’s 525,000 voters. But those 38,000 voters could be critical. Not only were they decidedly Republican (44.5 percent to 33.5 percent), but the area was also separated from the rest of the district. It was not part of either the Ventura or Santa Barbara media markets, and could therefore be worked in isolation.

    Early in the campaign, Strickland secured the endorsements of every member of the Santa Clarita City Council, and he campaigned in the district alongside his friend Cameron Smyth, the city’s former mayor who now represents the area in the Assembly.

    That focus on Santa Clarita provided Strickland with his narrow margin of victory. Not only did he win the LA County portion of the district, he outperformed the 11-point GOP voter-registration edge there, winning by 15.6 percentage points.

    Diligent basic, campaign work and an excellent strategy led to a close victory.

    Congrats to Team Strickland and political consultant Joe Justin for the win.

    Now, the governing part…….


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  • Audra Strickland,  Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Audra and Tony Strickland Head to Sacramento as Hannah-Beth Jackson Concedes

    Audra-and-Tony-Strickland

    California Republican Assemblywoman Audra Strickland and her husband Tony, the former Assemblyman and newly elected California Republican State Senator, Camarillo, California September 2008, Photo by Flap

    The election is finally over and it sends both Audra and Tony Strickland back to Sacramento.

    Less than an eyelash short of an upset marathon victory. Hannah-Beth Jackson reluctantly conceded defeat in the race for the 19th state senate district seat, more than three weeks after Election Day.

    “We really thought we could win this,” Jackson told me as she took a break from fixing Thanksgiving dinner for 10. “But I’m going to try to stay involved. I really feel like I have something to offer.”

    The Democrat’s loss means that Republican Tony Strickland will be on hand in Sacramento next week to take the oath of office with other newly elected state lawmakers. In the Legislature, Strickland will join his wife, Audra, who represents Ventura County in the 37th Assembly district, in forming one of the Capitol’s new power couples.

    Flap watched  the Strickland campaign first hand and they left little to chance. Strickland was relentless in walking precincts, working the phones, burma-shaving the street corners, and running absentee ballot/GOTV operations.

    Congrats to Team Strickland for a hard fought campaign in a dramatically Democrat year.

    Previous:

    Tony Strickland Wins California State Senate Race Over Hannah-Beth Jackson


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland Wins California State Senate Race Over Hannah-Beth Jackson

    +++++Update+++++

    From the Strickland campaign observers the count is OVER except for a few hundred votes in Los Angeles County.

    Tony Strickland is Senator-elect

    Flap had just updated the ballot count in the race for the California State Senate District 19 race and then received this e-mail from Ron Nehring, Chairman of the California Republican Party.

    Chairman's Report

    Dear Flap,
     
    I just got off the phone with California’s newest Republican State Senator, Tony Strickland.
     
    BRCThe last significant numbers in this closely contested Senate race just came in, and Tony is the winner in what is likely to be the most expensive State Senate contest in California history.  
     
    Tony’s victory is a major accomplishment for the Republican Party, and will have a major impact on the dynamics in the legislature.  As a solid tax-fighter, Tony’s leadership will further strengthen the forces for responsible, fiscally conservative governance in Sacramento.
     
    On behalf of the entire California Republican Party I want to extend our congratulations to Tony for his incredible perseverance in this campaign, his wife Assemblymember Audra Strickland, the entire Strickland campaign team, the monitoring team, the county Republican committees in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, and everyone else who contributed to this victory.
     
    Thank you for your leadership, and enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!
     
    All the best,
    BRC
    Ron Nehring
    CHAIRMAN, California Republican Party

    Perhaps the Strickland Campaign knows how many ballots remain to be counted in Ventura County or that the counting is OVER.

    Stay tuned for any further developments.


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland Lead Shrinks Again in California State Senate Race

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Los Angeles County, Ventura County and Santa Barbara Elections updated their vote totals today in the California State Senate District 19 race.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland continues to lead by 903 votes versus 1,164 votes Tuesday.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 73,708 [73,351] + 357 [#’s from Monday]; (72,693) (#’s from last Friday) + 658
    • Tony Strickland: 58,680 [58,497] + 183; (58,166) + 331

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 12,342 [12,193]  + 149 [#’s from Monday]; (12,083) + 110
    • Tony Strickland: 16,911 [16,660] + 251; (16,493) + 167

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 120,792 {119,780} {#’s from Tuesday} + 1,012 – 55%; [116,730 #’s from Monday] +3,050 – 52%  ; (115,477) + 1,253
    • Tony Strickland: 132,154 {131,331} + 823 – 45%; [128,507] + 2,824 – 48% ;  (126,922) + 1,585

    Los Angeles County again was kind to Tony Strickland while the provisional ballot count in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties punished his lead.

    Flap does not know whether there will be ANY further updates from Santa Barbara or Los Angeles County.

    With today’s update in Ventura County there remain around 3,000 provisional ballots to count there.

    If those Ventura County provisional ballots were to break  2 to 1 for Hannah- Beth Jackson, the race would be essentally tied, especially if she were to pick up a few votes in Santa Barbara County without an offset in Los Angeles County.

    So, what is Flap saying?

    The race remains close but everything has to break Jackson’s way for her to win or trigger a meritorious recount challenge. The recount may be coming forthwith, in any case.

    Flap agrees with Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star that it is unlikely that either of these candidates will take the oath of office on Monday when their term of office begins.

    Stay tuned as the deadline of December 2 (next Tuesday) approaches for each county to finish up their count and certify the election results.


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland’s Lead Shrinks Today in California State Senate Race

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Ventura County Elections updated their vote totals today whereas Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County did not.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland continues to lead by 1,164 votes versus 1,390 votes yesterday.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 73,351 (72,693) (#’s from last Friday) + 658
    • Tony Strickland: 58,497 (58,166) + 331

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 12,193 (12,083) + 110
    • Tony Strickland: 16,660 (16,493) + 167

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 119,780 [116,730 #’s from yesterday] +3,050 – 52%  ; (115,477) + 1,253
    • Tony Strickland: 131,331 [128,507] + 2,824 – 48% ;  (126,922) + 1,585

    Tony Strickland’s lead contracted today as returns from Ventura County (provisional ballots) broke for Hannah-Beth Jackson by four points (52-48%). There were an additional 5,874 ballots counted today which should leave around 5,000 or so to be counted.

    Flap does not know whether there will be any further updates from either Santa Barbara or Los Angeles County. Also, it is unknown whether Ventura County will update tomorrow – Flap doubts it.

    If Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara County are finished and Ventura County ballots break either for Tony Strickland or slightly for Hannah-Beth Jackson (e.g. 52-48%) Strickland wins by over 950 votes.

    As, I said before, it is POSSIBLE, but highly UNLIKELY, that Hannah-Beth Jackson can make up a vote deficit of 1,164 with around 5,000 to count.

    Stay tuned……..


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland Lead Holding UP in California State Senate Race

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Santa Barbara County,Los Angeles County and Ventura County Elections updated their vote totals today.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland continues to lead by 1,390 votes versus 1,328 votes on Friday.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 73,351 (72,693) (#’s from last Friday) + 658
    • Tony Strickland: 58,497 (58,166) + 331

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 12,193 (12,083) + 110
    • Tony Strickland: 16,660 (16,493) + 167

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 116,730 (115,477) + 1,253
    • Tony Strickland: 128,507 (126,922) + 1,585

    Tony Strickland today increased his lead in Ventura County by winning 55% of the new votes counted and over 60% in Los Angeles County albiet losing in Santa Barbara County by an almost two to 1 margin.

    Since Santa Barbara County elections is close or has completed counting, Flap estimates the election hangs in the balance due to approximately 11,000 uncounted provisional ballots in Ventura County.

    It is possible, but unlikely, that Hannah-Beth Jackson can make up the 1,390 votes pluarlity Tony Strickland enjoys.

    What does the likely Tony Strickland win mean for the California State Senate?

    The Democrats for the first few months of the new session of the California Legislature which begins in December will be at least three short of a 2/3 rds majority to pass a state budget.

    Stay tuned…..


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland Continues to Lead in California State Senate Race

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County Elections updated their vote totals yesterday whereas Ventura County did not for the California State Senate District 19 race.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland lead has shrunken to 1,328 votes versus 2,211 votes this past Tuesday.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 72,693
    • Tony Strickland: 58,166

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 12,083
    • Tony Strickland: 16,493

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 115,477
    • Tony Strickland: 126,922

    Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star:

    Although Jackson has closed the gap, nearly all the ballots in her home county, Democratic-leaning Santa Barbara County, have now been tallied. Strickland will hold on to win unless the approximately 14,000 provisional ballots yet to be counted in Ventura County have a strong Democratic tilt.

    Elections officials in Ventura County began processing provisional ballots this week but are not expected to release the first results from those ballots until Monday.

    In votes tallied thus far, Strickland has about a 5 percentage lead in the Ventura County portion of the district. Jackson would have to at least reverse that advantage among provisional ballots — perhaps unlikely, but something political observers say is possible given that many such ballots are cast by newly registered voters, who this year were predominantly Democrats.

    Hannah-Beth Jackson may have reached her high point in this race, much like Charlie Brown did against Tom McClintock in CA-4 before GOP leaning counties put him over the top. Her campaign continues to exude hope but it is an uphill climb for her.

    Stay tuned for the continuing saga as Ventura County updates on Monday.


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland Extends Lead in California State Senate Race – The Fat Lady Sings

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Ventura County has updated its vote totals yesterday whereas Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County Elections  did not for the California State Senate District 19 race.

    Republican Tony Strickland inched ahead of Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson by an additional 70 votes in the latest round of ballot-counting, leaving Strickland with a lead of 2,258 votes Monday.

    The two candidates for the 19th state Senate District seat have been neck-and-neck since election night, although Strickland has pulled ahead gradually as more late absentee and provisional ballots are counted. He now has 50.3 percent of the vote to Jackson’s 49.7 percent.

    On Monday afternoon, the County of Ventura released the results of 14,934 more ballots, bringing the total counted to 318,603. That means that about 95 percent of the ballots cast in the Nov. 4 election have been counted, according to county Elections Division estimates of how many votes were cast in the county.

    The votes left to count are absentee ballots that were turned in on Election Day, or provisional ballots. Both take longer than standard ballots to count because they have to be checked against the voter rolls.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland has extended his lead to 2,211 votes versus 1,560 votes last Wednesday.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 70,098
    • Tony Strickland: 56,744

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 11,611
    • Tony Strickland: 15,806

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 112,771
    • Tony Strickland: 124,141

    As Flap said before, this race is over and Tony Strickland has been elected. There will be a recount but Hannah-Beth Jackson would need a miracle to pull off a win.

    But, stay tuned for more ballot counts as they are released.


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland the Winner in California State Senate Race?

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County Elections have updated their totals Friday for the California State Senate District 19 race.

    With vote count updates released by Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties today, Republican Tony Strickland has taken a lead that, while not quite decisive, is certainly commanding. Strickland is now up 2,141 votes over Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson.

    Jackson’s camp still believes it can make up 2,000 or more votes from the pool of about 15,000 provisional ballots, but Strickland’s lead may be now pressing the outside of the envelope of what Jackson can make up.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland has extended his lead to 2,141 votes versus 1,560 votes Wednesday.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 70,098
    • Tony Strickland: 56,744

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 11,611
    • Tony Strickland: 15,806

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 107,783
    • Tony Strickland: 119,083

    Ok, Flap will go out on a small limb and call this race for Tony Strickland. It is extremely doubtful that there are sufficient votes in Santa Barbara County to deliver the election to Hannah-Beth Jackson.

    State Senate District 19 is a safe GOP seat and even with the massive tidal wave of Democrat dominance this election, the GOP base turned out to support one of its own.

    What does this mean for the Democrat dominated California Legislature?

    The California Democrat Party is denied 2/3’rds dominance of the State Senate and should make for some interesting budgetary fireworks as Democrats and Republicans will have to work together to forge a balanced budget. The California GOP will be able to block new taxes and spending initiatives.

    Moreover, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is guaranteed a veto-proof legislature.

    Stay tuned……


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  • Hannah-Beth Jackson,  Tony Strickland

    Tony Strickland Again Extends Vote Lead in California State Senate Race

    strickland-and-jackson

    Former California Assembly Members Tony Strickland and Hannah-Beth Jackson candidates for California State Senate District 19

    Ventura County elections has updated their totals today for the California State Senate District 19 race. Santa Barbara and Los Angeles County as of 2 PM Friday have not updated today.

    According to Flap’s math Republican Tony Strickland has extended his lead to 2,027 votes versus 1,560 votes Wednesday.

    Tony Strickland pulled ahead of Hannah-Beth Jackson by almost 500 more votes on Friday, giving him a lead of 2,027 in the race for California’s 19th District State Senate seat.

    Ventura County officials counted another 8,933 ballots on Thursday and Friday, bringing the countywide total to 303,669 ballots. That leaves about 10 percent of the vote still uncounted. The remaining ballots are either absentee ballots there were turned in on Election Day, or provisional ballots.

    The raw figures:

    Santa Barbara County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 69,829
    • Tony Strickland: 56,522

    Los Angeles County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 11,322
    • Tony Strickland: 15,356

    Ventura County:

    • Hannah-Beth Jackson: 107,783
    • Tony Strickland: 119,083

    Flap is reticent to call this election because of the pending recount. But if Flap were Tony Strickland I would not be losing too much sleep over this race.

    Stay tuned….


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