Countywide : NOW Endorses Starr and O’Connell

The California chapter of the National Organization for Women has endorsed Democratic state Senate candidate Hank Starr and Democratic Assemblyman Jack O’Connell for legislative seats representing Ventura County in Sacramento, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Starr is opposing Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) in the 19th State Senate District, which includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, most of Thousand Oaks and portions of the San Fernando Valley.

O’Connell, a Carpinteria resident, is running against Republican Allan O. Ebenstein of Santa Barbara in the 35th State Assembly District, which includes Ojai, Santa Paula, Ventura and part of Santa Barbara County.

Linda Joplin, state coordinator for California NOW, said the group’s state and national political action committees earlier endorsed two other candidates in Ventura County races.

The group is backing Anita Perez Ferguson, a Democrat running against Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) in the 23rd Congressional District, which includes Carpinteria and all of Ventura County, except most of Thousand Oaks; and Roz McGrath, a Democrat vying against Oxnard’s Republican Mayor Nao Takasugi in the 37th Assembly District. That Assembly district includes Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Thousand Oaks.