Pollock Kicks Off Congressional Campaign

Update Sept. 18: We've added that David Thayne of Westlake Village is also a candidate for the 26th District.

Theme music to the movie The Bad News Bears greeted guests arriving at David Pollock’s campaign kick-off Saturday night. The Moorpark City Council member and former child actor (he played Rudi Stein in the movie) is running for Congress.

Pollock, a Democrat, announced in early August that he would enter the race for the newly formed 26th Congressional District, which encompasses most of Ventura County. Another Democrat, David Thayne of Westlake Village, is also vying for the seat. Currently, Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly serves the area. Gallegly has not yet said if he’ll seek re-election.

The Saturday evening gathering, which took place at Cutler’s Oak Run Farm in Moorpark, served as a chance to rally volunteers and supporters. Music by Beatles tribute band Ticket to Ride stopped only long enough to allow Pollock a chance to speak.

Pollock explained how he first got involved in politics, long before running for a city council seat. He wanted to become a member of the Moorpark Unified School District Board because he didn’t like what he was reading in the news about the way public education was going in the city. He was a member of the school board for 15 years.

“Our experience in Moorpark was very positive,” Pollock said. “We showed that a small group of very dedicated people with some leadership skills and the hard work of some professionals involved can come together and make a huge difference and we’re very proud of what Moorpark schools have accomplished.”

The reason he decided to run for Congress now, he said, is he again does not like what he’s reading in the newspapers.

“Something is terribly wrong,” Pollock said, citing that nationally, the country is raising the first generation that probably can expect to have a lower standard of living than its parents.

“That is absolutely, terribly wrong to me. If there’s anything we should care about most, it’s our children,” he said.

He claimed “the politics of fear, anger and hatred have consumed the political scene in the country” partly due to gerrymandering. When you have safe seats, he said, you have to pay attention, not to your constituents, but your party leaders because “they have a real impact on your professional life.”

The new district lines, he said, do away with that and leave a level playing field, with voters more evenly distributed between Republicans and Democrats (Democrats have a slight advantage in the new district).

Pollock believes he can be successful and keep on track with lessons he’s learned in his political life.

“What I’ve learned here and at the state level—what I know and truly believe—is a single voice asking the right questions can make a big difference. It made a difference in Moorpark. It made a difference in the California school board association when I lead them, and I have every confidence that it will make a difference in Congress,” he said.

And supporters at the event concurred. Moorpark resident Tina Valdez said Pollock’s background in education is one of the reasons she supports him.

“We have kids in Moorpark schools and we’re very concerned with what’s going on in schools these days,” she said. “He has that background of being on the board and working with Sacramento.”

Her husband, Lou Valdez, a Moorpark Foundation for the Arts Board member, also noted Pollock’s support for the arts.

“Hopefully he can work with his colleagues and make a difference,” he said.

Elaine Phinney of Newbury Park said she’s been friends with Pollock for about three years and supports him because “he makes sense,” she said.

“He supports the things I support,” Phinney said, “and he’s a good guy.”