Political Notebook

Central Coast

Clark Vandeventer of Goleta, chief executive officer for World Changers Inc., has announced his candidacy for the 23rd District Congressional seat held by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara.

He becomes the third Republican seeking the nomination to go up against the veteran Democrat. John Davidson of Thousand Oaks and David Stockdale of Santa Maria also have said they will run.

Vandeventer calls himself a philanthropist and social entrepreneur who “specializes in building movements.”

Capps represents San Luis Obispo and the coastal areas of San Luis Obispo County in Congress. Her district snakes along the coast into Ventura County.

— Bob Cuddy

Arroyo Grande

San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors candidate Mike Zimmerman will speak on issues concerning youth in the community Tuesday at a meeting of the Central Coast Young Republicans.

The social part of the meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at CJ’s Café in Arroyo Grande, and will be followed by a dinner at 6 p.m.

Zimmerman will take questions and ask attendees what matters most to them.

Central Coast Young Republicans consists of emerging leaders, young families and students in San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties, according to a news release.

If you wish to attend, RSVP to Amber Johnson at 709-8161 or e-mail mike@dz-law.net.

Zimmerman, an attorney and rancher, is running for the 4th District supervisor’s seat, which stretches from southwestern San Luis Obispo, south into the Edna Valley to Arroyo Grande and Nipomo. He is running against Arroyo Grande City Councilman Jim Guthrie and Lucia Mar school board member and county Parks Commissioner Paul Teixeira.

Incumbent Katcho Achadjian, now completing his third term, is stepping down from the board to run for state Assembly.

— Bob Cuddy

SLO County

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, will have a field representative available to speak with constituents during office hours in Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande and San Miguel later this month.

The public is invited to speak with aide Mike Whiteford from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at:

• The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce office, 1225 Park St., on March 16;

• The South County Regional Center, 800 W. Branch St. on March 17;

• 1150 Mission St. in San Miguel on March 19.

McCarthy represents the North County and parts of Arroyo Grande and Nipomo in Congress.

For information, call Whiteford at 461-1034.

— Bob Cuddy

Atascadero

Atascadero businessman Brent MacGregor will direct the North County Assembly campaign of Matt Kokkonen, the candidate announced Friday.

MacGregor, a 1988 Cal Poly graduate in political science and owner of a local photography company, will head Kokkonen’s efforts in the Paso Robles/Atascadero area, including planning events such as town hall meetings, rallies and fundraisers.

Kokkonen is one of four Republican candidates running in the June primary to replace 33rd District Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, who must leave the Assembly after this year because of term limits.

— Bob Cuddy

Central Coast

Hilda Zacarias, running for the 33rd Assembly District seat, has picked up the endorsement of the region’s most prominent Democrat, Rep. Lois Capps.

Capps, of Santa Barbara, praised Zacarias for a lifetime of accomplishment and commitment to improving her community, including time on the Santa Maria school board and the Santa Maria City Council, where Zacarias is a councilwoman.

A former public accountant, Zacarias is executive director of the Santa Barbara Family Care Center.

She has assisted such organizations as the Dana Adobe in Nipomo, the Alliance for Pharmaceutical Access in northern Santa Barbara County and the California Family Resource Association.

Zacarias is the only Democrat to announce for the job, which is being vacated by Sam Blakeslee, who cannot run again because of term limits.

Republicans in the race are San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, former Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Etta Waterfield, Paso Robles City Councilman Fred Strong and San Luis Obispo financial planner Matt Kokkonen.

— Bob Cuddy