O’Connell raised $810,000 in 2005 and ended the December 31 reporting period with just more than $1 million in his campaign coffers. O’Connell is a particular favorite of Santa Paulans, where he spent much time with his Sidewalk Office Hours and regularly visits the Santa Paula High School classroom of government teacher Ed Arguelles, a longtime friend.O’Connell’s Assembly and Senate districts were gutted and then reconfigured during the redistricting that folded much of the Santa Clara River Valley into representative areas that include Santa Clarita Valley. Thereafter, Tony Strickland became the area’s Assemblyman until he was forced out of office by term limits. Audra Strickland, Tony Strickland’s wife, was elected to the Assembly post formerly held by her husband.But Tony Strickland isn’t done with politics: he is hoping to capture the Republican nomination for state Controller, a seat also being sought by state Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria. Maldonado is ahead in the money game, with a campaign chest of $525,000. Strickland’s end of year balance is reportedly $322,000 out of the $537,000 he raised last year.
Jack’s got jack: Top educator O’Connell has $1M, no challenger in sight
February 24, 2006
Santa Paula News
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, who represented much of western Ventura County including Santa Paula for about two decades, seems to be coasting to reelection in the June primary.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesState Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, who represented much of western Ventura County including Santa Paula for about two decades, seems to be coasting to reelection in the June primary. O’Connell, a graduate of Oxnard High School, where he later taught and was a basketball coach, so far has not attracted any serious challenger for the state’s top educational job.The office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is nonpartisan, and the June primary vote will not determine a party nominee but would narrow the field to the top vote getters. If O’Connell captures more than 50 percent of the vote in June, he would be reelected without having to run on the November ballot.When O’Connell was elected to the post four years ago, it was with the highest vote in the state for any office-seeker. He had been forced into a runoff but easily captured the seat, sought after he had to leave the state Senate due to term limits. O’Connell became the state Senator after serving multiple terms in the Assembly before he had to seek higher officer or retire, again due to term limits.
