Local Assembly candidate is only Republican to win labor group’s support
August 3rd, 2010
In all the partisan races across the state this fall, the California Labor Federation has endorsed 152 candidates. On its list are 151 Democrats — and Jeff Gorell, the Republican candidate in Ventura County’s 37th Assembly District.
“That’s how our delegates voted,” said Marilyn Valenzuela, executive secretary-treasurer of the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council, which made the recommendation to the state federation.
“He told us he wouldn’t go to Sacramento, act in lockstep with the Republican Caucus and just be a member of the party of no,” she said. “We definitely don’t anticipate a 100 percent voting record out of him, but he’s someone we can sit down with.”
Camarillo chamber revives program honoring local educators
March 7th, 2010
A program that recognizes educators in Camarillo public schools is one of the ways local businesses are promoting the city as a good place to live and work, organizers say.
A teacher working in the Pleasant Valley School District is singled out for recognition monthly, said Jeff Gorell, who chairs the chamber’s education committee.
The long-running program had “fallen by the wayside about 2 1/2 years ago,” he said. Gorell, a senior partner with the Paladin Principle public affairs company in Ventura, said he was asked to get the program up and running again.
Public Safety Unites Behind Assembly Candidate Jeff Gorell
March 4th, 2010
The Committee to Elect Jeff Gorell for State Assembly 2010 announced today that the local public safety community has united to endorse Jeff's legislative campaign, including state and local organizations representing crime victims, firefighters, police officers, and sheriff's deputies.
Jeff Gorell's campaign for the 37th Assembly District was endorsed this week by the Crime Victims United of California; Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association; Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs Association; County of Los Angeles Firefighters' Association; and California Professional Firefighters.
"Jeff Gorell has served on the front lines of public safety as a criminal prosecutor in Ventura County where he supported victims of crime every day," said Harriet C. Salarno, Chair of Crime Victims United of California. "We believe he has the public policy know-how and leadership skills to come to Sacramento and make a real difference in the fight to keep California safe and protect the rights of victims of crime. We are proud to endorse Jeff Gorell for Assembly."
Chambers back local Assembly candidate
December 18th, 2009
On a frosty morning last week Assembly candidate Jeff Gorell stood outside Silver Star Chevrolet in Thousand Oaks and accepted an endorsement from the California Chamber of Commerce.
Representatives from the Camarillo and the Oxnard Chambers also gave their endorsements to the financially conservative, pro-business candidate on Dec. 9.
Gorell, a Camarillo resident, said he plans to work “tirelessly to spark local job growth” if elected to serve in the 37th Assembly District, replacing Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), who is termed out. The district includes Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo and a large portion of Simi Valley.
Jeff Gorell Endorsed by Cal Chamber and Local Chambers
December 9th, 2009
Candidate for State Assembly Jeff Gorell was endorsed today by the California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) and a number of local Chambers at a press conference in the 37th Assembly District. The candidate also used the opportunity to announce a policy action agenda to create local jobs and spark economic recovery.
"I'm honored to have the support of CalChamber and the local chambers gathered here today," said Jeff Gorell. "Working tirelessly to spark local job growth will be my immediate and most dedicated mission if elected to the legislature next year."
State Assembly candidate enjoys successful fundraising campaign, local GOP backing
July 31st, 2009
Campaign officials for Jeff Gorell’s bid for the 37th State Assembly District announced earlier this month that the Camarillo resident has raised more than $111,000 from over 200 individuals and organizations since announcing his candidacy for the state seat.
About 80 percent of the campaign’s contributors are located in Ventura, Santa Barbara and northern Los Angeles counties, Gorell campaign officials said.
Ventura County Republican Party Endorses Jeff Gorell for the 37th State Assembly District
June 24th, 2009
The Ventura County Republican Central Committee voted unanimously last night to officially endorse Jeff Gorell’s bid for the 37th State Assembly District in 2010. The Party joins Senator Strickland, Senator Runner, Assemblywoman Strickland, Assemblyman Smyth, Supervisor Foy, and many other elected local Republicans with the endorsement.
"Jeff Gorell’s strong stance on the issues of importance to the citizens of Ventura County has demonstrated that he is the best candidate to represent the diverse interests of the 37th District", says Chairman Mike Osborn. “Candidates like Jeff are going to be instrumental in leading the Republican Party at the local level, and preparing our Party for victory in 2010 and beyond.”
Hundreds rally against taxes, government spending
April 16th, 2009
Hundreds of protesters, some dressed like Revolutionary War soldiers and most waving American flags or signs with anti-government slogans, gathered on tax-deadline day Wednesday for an antitax demonstration outside the County Government Center in Ventura.
Speakers in the courtyard outside the county courthouse included Jeff Gorell, a former prosecutor running for an Assembly seat next year. “I refuse to let my state go to hell in a handbasket,” Gorell, a Republican, said to cheers. “We’ve had enough of these taxes.”
California Highway Patrol Officers Endorse Jeff Gorell for State Assembly 2010
March 30th, 2009
The 15,000-member California Association of Highway Patrolmen announced today its strong endorsement of Jeff Gorell as the next Assembly Member representing California's 37th District, pledging grassroots and financial assistance.
"Our State's highway patrolmen enthusiastically endorse Jeff Gorell's candidacy in the 37th State Assembly District in 2010," said Shawn Stevens, Legislative Chair for CAHP. "He is a leader with tremendous public safety credentials. He is a veteran crime fighter, having worked side-by-side with our officers for more than six years as Ventura County Deputy District Attorney. We look forward to working with Jeff as a State Legislator toward keeping the highways of California safe for drivers, while ensuring that our officers have the proper training and equipment to achieve this life-saving goal."
Republican Legislative Taxfighters Endorse Jeff Gorell for State Assembly 2010
March 10th, 2009
The campaign for Jeff Gorell, candidate for State Assembly in 2010, announced today that he has been endorsed by 18 Republican legislators from throughout the State who all stood strong against new taxes and voted against the February state budget deal. These Legislators join Assembly Member Audra Strickland in supporting Jeff in his campaign to represent the 37th Assembly District in 2010 when Strickland will be termed-out.
"I'm a fiscal conservative who will join the ranks of these legislators and fight new taxes and the exponential growth in government that we have seen over the past eight years," said Jeff Gorell, a local business owner. "Despite the challenges in Sacramento today, I continue to have great optimism and inspiration to make positive change for our community. It's an honor to have the early support of these Republican legislators and so many respected state and local leaders; and it would be one of life's greatest honors to represent this community - my neighbors - in the State Legislature."
Assemblywoman Audra Strickland Endorses Jeff Gorell to Succeed her in State Assembly
January 15th, 2009
The campaign for Jeff Gorell, candidate for State Assembly in 2010, announced today that he has been endorsed by incumbent Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark). The 37th Assembly District lawmaker is precluded from running for re-election due to Proposition 140, California's term limits law, and she has made public her early and strong support for Jeff Gorell to succeed her in office.
"It's an honor to have the support of Assemblywoman Strickland," said Jeff Gorell, a former Ventura County Deputy DA and local attorney. "As our next Assemblyman, I will work to reform California's government and build upon her efforts to hold the line on government spending and new taxes. Like Audra, I will be a strong ally of public safety on all fronts, and will fight against the proposed Camarillo prison hospital. "
GOP tries to unify message
November 26th, 2008
After painful losses in the November elections, California’s Republican Party stalwarts are trying to decide whether to head for the beach or hole up in the Central Valley.
Between the two camps, a few Republicans – such as Jeff Gorell, a Camarillo attorney running for the 37th Assembly District in 2010 – say the question facing the party is simply one of which issues to amplify. Done skillfully, Gorell said, no part of the party’s coalition has to be alienated.
To be successful in 2010 and beyond, all camps agree that Republicans must re-establish themselves as the party of limited government, low taxes and fiscal responsibility. They agree that the party’s focus should be stimulating the economy and fixing the state budget. “When the issues of job creation and economic development are spoken about, we’re the adults in the room,” Gorell said.
Jeff Gorell getting Early Start in his second Assembly bid
April 14th, 2008
Jeff Gorell learned his lesson in 2004.
That year, the Camarillo attorney ran for a 37th Assembly District, losing the GOP primary in an area so reliably Republican the race for the nomination constitutes the contest. Gorell jumped in the fray in January 2003, only to find opponent Audra Strickland whizzing along to the nomination, helped significantly by her well-known last name: Her husband, Tony Strickland, had just termed out of the same Assembly seat.
With an endorsement list long and deep, Gorell surged in the last six months of the 2004 race but lost by a slim margin made up mostly of absentee ballots cast earlier. So, this time Gorell is getting in early - two years early. Last month, he threw his hat in the ring for the 37th District race in 2010, when Audra Strickland will term out.
Early start like Jeff Gorell’s is reality of legislative politics
March 30th, 2008
Jeff Gorell, a local attorney, announced earlier this month that he has created an exploratory campaign to run for state Assembly in 2010 in the 37th Assembly District, which runs through most of inland Ventura County.
Gorell's early exploratory campaign is not by accident. He is an adjunct professor here at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks and teaches the basics of public policy and politics to California's future government and political leaders.
He reckons that to win in 2010, he will need to develop early and strong support in the community. It looks like he has read the tea leaves and is doing just that.
Gorell plans run for Assembly in 2010
March 19th, 2008
Hoping to lock up support from prominent Ventura County Republicans, Camarillo attorney Jeff Gorell on Tuesday formed an exploratory committee to run for the Assembly in 2010 and announced he has already received endorsements from 31 current and former government officials.
Gorell, 37, acknowledged it is exceptionally early to kick off a campaign but said the realities of modern campaigns have made an early entry imperative.
