Brownley With just over a month left until the June 5 primary election, the six candidates for Ventura County’s 26th U.S. Congressional District have already collected more than $1.3 million in campaign funds, making it one of the most expensive current races for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Almost two-thirds of the amount was raised by State Sen. Tony Strickland, the lone Republican in the race.

According to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last month, Strickland raised $781,800 between Jan. 1 and March 31—more than a quarter million dollars more than the rest of the 26th District’s final candidates combined.

Democrat Julia Brownley, who currently represents the Santa Monica to Oxnard 41st As- sembly District in Sacramento, reported the second- most contributions, with $281,100 in the first quarter.

Indepen- dent candidate Linda Parks, who has served as a Ventura County supervisor for the last nine years, followed with $155,620.

Goldberg Two other Democratic candidates— Westlake Village businessman Dav i d Cruz Thayne and Oxnard Harbor District commissioner Jess Herrera—raised $102,930 and $14,900 respectively. Ventura

Realtor Albert Goldberg, also a Democrat, reported no financial contributions.

Political pundits say Washington and the rest of the nation will be paying extra attention to the ultracompetitive race, particularly because Ventura County was a GOP stronghold for 13 consecutive terms while part of Elton Gallegly’s former 24th District. Gallegly announced in January he would retire and not run in the newly formed 26th District, as his hometown of Simi Valley now sits in the neighboring 25th district.

The independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission redrew district boundaries last year and the new 26th District gained better partisan balance.

Herrera Now including most of Ventura County and Westlake Village in Los Angeles County, the district shows 31 percent registered Democrats and 25 percent registered Republicans. Nearly 20 percent of the district’s voters are registered as “decline to state,” while another 24 percent are affiliated with parties other than Democrat or Republican.

The top two vote-getters in the June 5 primary, regardless of party affiliation, will get to battle for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in the November general election.

To view complete 2012 campaign finance reports for the U.S. Presidential, House and Senate elections, visit www.fec.gov.

Discussing the issues

On Mon., May 7, all six candidates for the 26th Congressional District will meet with the public and discuss the important issues facing the area during a candidates’ forum at California Lutheran University.

Parks The event, which begins at 7 p.m. inside the university’s Lundring Center on the north side of campus, is being hosted by The Acorn Newspapers in partnership with CLU and Time Warner Cable.

The university is at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.

Cast your vote

The Ventura County Clerk and Recorder’s office will begin sending out vote-by-mail ballots on May 7. Those who would like to begin voting by mail should fill out and return the application on the back of the sample ballot booklet or write a letter to the Ventura County Elections Division by Tues., May 29.

Completed vote- by- mail ballots must be returned to the Ventura County Elections Division by 8 p.m. Tues., June 5 or dropped off at any polling place location in the county.

Strickland Call the Elections Division at (805) 654-2664 for more voting information.

Cruz-Thayne