Two Announce Bids for Senate Primary Race

Two Ventura County residents, who have announced long-shot bids for the U.S. Senate, share a common theme--putting government into the hands of everyday citizens.

“I think it’s time for a change in government, because the government is not actually listening to the people,” said Billy Ellis, a 35-year-old Democrat. “The people have no voice in government.”

Ellis, a lifelong Ventura resident who manages a restaurant in the city, said that if elected, he would call for a 25% pay cut for government officials and an immediate salary freeze that will remain in effect until the federal deficit is balanced.

“I want to get a common voice in the Senate,” said Ellis, who hopes to collect 10,000 signatures to avoid paying a $2,700 filing fee for the June primary ballot. “Basically my whole campaign is going to be about putting common sense back into government.”

Simi Valley resident Dennis Moore, a 43-year-old Republican, also aspires to bring a common voice--and some reason--to a government that he says has outgrown efficiency.

“The federal government has grown in size and scope to the point where independence has been greatly diminished,” said Moore, a self-employed property tax consultant. “Congress has succeeded in achieving and encouraging significant dependence on the federal government and, of course, the more dependent we are, the less independent we are.”

Moore said he considers himself a conservative citizen as opposed to a traditional politician, and hoped voters would make that distinction when casting their ballots. He plans to pay the $2,700 filing fee and only needs 65 signatures to get on the ballot. “If I can get my name on the primary ballot,” he said, “then for the first time that I know of in my lifetime, registered Republicans will have the unprecedented chance to vote for a citizen, instead of a politician.”