Truth About "Ventura Ex-Elected Anti-Tom Squad"
Posted by: Aaron Park | 05/15/2008 4:36 PM
Ventura County 'ex-officials' have Axe to Grind with McClintock
Three ex-officials, city and county types, have an axe to grind with McClintock. They held a conference call with reporters Thursday, which left reporters not only laughing at them, but also wondering why are they going out of their way to slam McClintock? Every elected official has someone who will take 'shots' at them, even from within their own party. But why would three "Ex's" even care?
Turns out, the ring-leader is Judy Mikels, a FORMER county supervisor and most certainly another MTA client who wants to get even with our guy Tom. Mikels ran against McClintock for State Senate and was soundly defeated by the voters in 2000. In fact, Mikels only received 13% of the vote. Soon after, she ran for re-election to the Board of Supervisors, and was again rejected. McClintock actively worked to defeat Judy Mikels and Madge Schaefer in their re-election campaigns for county supervisors and they lost. Tom also opposed Greg Stratton when he ran for county supervisor and he lost.
Any wonder? According to the Ventura County Star, the local newspaper, "critics say Mikels is beholden to developer campaign contributions." In 2006, the Mikels campaign also came under scrutiny for violating election laws.
"She's arrogant ... and controlled by special interests," Moorpark Councilman Clint Harper said. "She treats the city of Moorpark and the City Council like dirt."
Harper and others have objected to Mikels' support of a proposed street connecting Moorpark and Santa Rosa roads and to her vote allowing increased truck traffic for a mining company in Walnut Canyon.
With 18-wheelers driving past a church, school and City Hall, "the center of Moorpark looks like a truck stop," Harper said.
"At very important times, when we relied upon her representation the most, she has failed our position," Moorpark Mayor Patrick Hunter said.
Would anyone care for some crab with that fine wine?
Ventura County Star Article 2/10/2002 about Judy Mikels
Ventura County Star Article - 12/15/2007 about Judy Mikels Campaign being scrutinized and Fined
Aaron:
You almost had a good point here, and then had to ruin it with the comment about being beholden to developer money. Once again, you very easily shift into liberal Democrat rhetoric when it suits your cause of the day.
I don't recall you posting any of the comments from Bruce Kranz's opponents when they have accused him of being beholden to developer money. When they make that attack, you say it is because they are anti-property rights.
When Judy Mikels is attacked for being beholden to developers, you react just the opposite.
Which is it?
For the record, I was not a Judy Mikels fan on most issues when she was on the Board of Supes in Ventura County. But the hit on McClintock not caring much for the business of representing a district is a legit hit. Tom would probably where that hit as a badge of honor.
Jeff,
I am sure you meant "wear" instead of "where" but you will still have trouble sleeping tonight after this last post: Say what anyone wants about Tom McClintock he carried a COASTAL Republican district by WIDE margin all of his years of service.
Obviously, this was NOT because they all agreed with him on the issues. There were two important reasons, and Jeff you know they are both true despite your confidential discussions with other members:
1) People always know where Tom stands and people appreciate that in an elected official these days even if they do not always agree with him.
2) Tom also had one of the BEST district office operations of any member of the legislature and I say this as one who only worked out of the capitol office, so there are no bragging rights here. The only local officials they could find to trash Tom were ones that he opposed or who ran against him over spending issues. As with the veterans issue, they should have talked with a few voters down there to really find out what kind of legislator Tom was.
John
PS: I have no doubt that you have other members whispering to you about Senator McClintock. As you and I both know, if he has one weakness it is with personal relations with other members, but somehow I don't think the voters of the 4th CD are going to think that is very important or thinking to themselves, "OH NO if we send Tom to Washington he won't get along with some of the other congressmen there!"
Coastal? The population centers of Tom's district are all inland. Simi Valley. Thousand Oaks. These are inland LA suburbs.
No, John. This CD4 voter thinks that he won't get along with ANY of the other congressmen there.
There are probably 70-90 members who think Senator McClintock will be a breath of fresh air and enjoy working with Tom to get our Reagan Majority back in the House of Representatives.
The other Republicans will be outraged with how Tom opposes their big spending ways, often go along with him because of threatened public pressure and then call Jeff Flint to let him know how bad a member Tom really is.
The Democrats will REALLY not like Tom, but again I don't see how that is a problem in this district??
John
Bob,
Don't want to focus too much on geography, but last time I checked Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Ventura and in the past Oxnard are all coastal cities.
John
Santa Barbara has 90,000 people; the population of Ventura County alone is 750,000. Most of the population of Tom's district is inland.
So Santa Barbara ALONE is 15% of the district and this is not a coastal district. Now I see why you think Charlie can win in November!
JOHN
Ventura County is only part of the 19th Senate District.