VENTURA/OXNARD : Brown Greeted With Interest on State Tour

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Brown stopped in Ventura County on Tuesday to speak to a group of residents and visit an Oxnard school as part of her bus tour of the state.

More than 100 people attended a breakfast at the Colony Harbortown Hotel in Ventura where Brown discussed her views on health, education and the economy.

Addressing an enthusiastic audience, Brown said her campaign “is about restoring the promises to California families, to rebuild the new California so families can get the opportunity to buy new homes. . . .This state cannot grow, cannot be prosperous, if our kids cannot get a good education.”

Among those attending the breakfast, which was organized by Ventura County Democrats United and the National Women’s Political Caucus, were labor union members, nurses, students and local elected officials, including Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez and Oxnard School District Trustee Mary Barreto.

“She will help the labor movement a lot more than Pete Wilson,” said David C. Valenzuela, president of the Ventura County Laborers’ International Union, Local 585. “It’s time for a change and she is the best candidate to lead the state.”

Although most in the audience were Brown supporters, some paid the $10 fee for the breakfast just for the opportunity to meet the Democratic candidate.

“I want to hear Kathleen Brown speaking. I want to learn more about her,” said Paula Thompson, a Ventura business owner. “She is a woman and that intrigues me.”

After the breakfast, Brown stopped by Emilie Ritchen Elementary School in Oxnard, where she spoke to fifth- and sixth-grade students.

From Ventura County, Brown went to Santa Barbara, where she was scheduled to speak to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.