Three “Thought Leaders” will be featured at a major speaker panel and discussion from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sat., Feb. 9, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Ventura County.

The public is invited “to bring friends, listen to Thought Leaders, and discuss the issues,” said Nell McCombs of Ventura, League representative. This event will be in the Santa Monica Room at Courtyard by Marriott, 600 S. Esplanade Dr., Oxnard 93036. The $5 donation includes a Continental Breakfast. No reservations are needed. Moderator will be Barbara Doyle of Santa Paula.

Speakers featured will be:
JOE MATHEWS, Co-author of “California Crack Up: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It,” on how we got here, with one of the longest constitutions in the world, and what can be done.
. CA Editor of Zocalo Public Square and Founder of Global Direct Democracy Academy
at ASU;
. Former reporter at the LA Times, the WSJ, and Baltimore Sun; and
. Now a contributing writer for LA Times and other prominent media outlets.

CAMERON SMYTH, Former Assemblyman (R-38th), who represented Eastern Ventura County, on the role of the Legislature in the initiative process: why do so many issues end up on the ballot and what can be done?
. Smyth was named chair of the Local Government Committee by the Speaker, a
rare honor.
. He served on the Santa Clarita City Council and as Mayor prior to his election in 2006
to the Assembly.

KATHAY FENG, Executive Director of California Common Cause (CCC) and a civil rights attorney, on the process of qualifying propositions for the ballot and ideas for reform.
. Under her leadership, CA Common Cause has been active in championing election
and redistricting reforms, voting rights including on line registration and same day
registration, campaign finance reforms, among other good government issues.