Minnowtaur is right: he is no more notable than "virtually every small-town alderman, every high school quarterback or point guard, every owner of a local business, every Rotary Club president."

Interesting AfD.

Views?

It's perfectly obvious that he meets WP standards of notability. (He's had loads of coverage in non-trivial places.) Whether those standards make sense is another question, of course. Still, notable doesn't necessarily mean famous. There are plenty of worthy people who "deserve" (if that's the right word) a WP article who will never ever get onto "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" or whatever.

Deleted by John Vandenberg, presumably per WP:MASK.

Deleted by John Vandenberg, presumably per WP:MASK.

Could not a similar argument be made for the recent 2010 Central Canada earthquake? Authored by someone who should know better, over-referenced, predominately local mainstream media sources whose coverage is little more than water-cooler babble writ large, intense wikification, etc?

WP:MASK is a sensationally "good" policy. By "good" I mean that it succeeds in giving admins significantly greater power to use and (not that we'd ever accuse Mr Vandenberg of such a thing) abuse. In a nutshell, it says "even if an aticle passes every possible criteria of notability, WP:RS, etc. it can still be deleted if someone doesn't like it".

I tried to rewrite the lead so one could see why he might be notable instead of it being four paragraphs of baloney. That's when I realized there was nothing to write. Essentially the guy is/was a member of the local school board and for one term its chair, and then was a failed candidate in the Republican primary for the local California Senate district, I believe. (He lost the primary earlier this month.) Cirt, who edits at superhuman speeds, was reverting my work lightning fast without discussion outside the edit summary. So I made a quick edit summary that the lead "SUCKS BALLS" to get his goddamn attention. Of course then he complains and drags me to the BLP noticeboard to ask whether BLP applies to edit summaries. Cirt also believed that the article needed to have a large four paragraph introduction because that's what Feature Articles have, though I noted that some things should never be Featured because then the word Feature will mean nothing. Some wikipedia entries deserve to be two paragraphs.

Of course, Ken Dickson is the same AFD where Herostratus mouthed off about the guy's lack of notability, which directly led to his dramafest recall RFA now in progress.

Perhaps I'm off-base, but seeing this makes me wonder if Cirt is being paid to write such crap BLPs.

that idle thought occurred to me but i really have nothing to back up any such speculation.

It's probably best not to go into too much detail on that score.

I'd have to say that Cirt isn't really all that bad anymore ...

Hi there. Welcome to WR.

Who are you?

<snip>I'm a newly registered user of Wikipedia Review.</snip>

You could start here... This has been suggested before, and if it keeps up, we're going to have to give him his own subforum. (Or is User:Cirt female? We never did figure that one out, as I recall.)

Depends on how you look at it. I think someone who has the skill to mask non-notable subjects and the social capital to usually get away with it, like present day Cirt is much more damaging to the project than a known POV warrior like Smee (former Cirt). The masking essay might as well have been written about Cirt, btw -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:MASK.

I guarantee you the articles you will find relate to people or a products that have something to gain from PR and not a general topic of interest.

And apparently a paid-up lifetime member of the Tautology Club.

Welcome.

In fact, if any of this is true, it leads me to believe that everyone involved in Cirt's promotional activities is female, including Cirt - if there were males involved, at least one of them would be bragging online about how they're getting away with it scot-free.

The only club worth belonging to. Out of curiosity is it standard practice to be met with the "who are you" greeting here? Would be good to know when I encounter new users.

Out of curiosity is it standard practice to be met with the "who are you" greeting here?

If Cirt is actually getting paid to edit I actually think it's only a matter of time before it comes out. S/he has to get new clients somehow and the process can't be totally esoteric because then no one would know how to hire her/him. At some point someone who thinks its worth exposing would get access to that process I would think, but what do I know.

... you have to expect someone* to come up with ludicrous speculation about your identity otherwise.

Anyhoo, I fully expect to get an e-mail from Cirt within the next 2-3 days telling me these allegations are absurd, unfounded, etc., and that (s)he just does it for the heck of it, because (s)he enjoyed reading the books in question. So, I apologize in advance for stating these suspicions without hard evidence.

The only club worth belonging to. Out of curiosity is it standard practice to be met with the "who are you" greeting here? Would be good to know when I encounter new users.

Nah, that's just NuclearWarfare being rude. Fortunately, everyone else on Wikipedia Review is very, very, very polite.

Regarding Dickson specifically it should be noted that he ran in an election this June. Cirt started editing the page in the fall, probably shortly before or after he announced his candidacy.

I highly doubt that Dickson is Cirt or that Cirt is simply a supporter of his. S/he has been beautifying (though not fluffing up ... yet) the entry for a Democratic congressional candidate of late -- Rob Miller of SC. I doubt that a Dickson supporter would also support Miller ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Miller_(S...ina_politician)

I almost forgot. Cirt is particularly good at advertising books. Often this is done within his/her POV areas, but check this recent gem out -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga:_Queen_of_Pop. Consider for a moment what types of subjects s/he puts this kind of meticulous editing into, outside of the Scientology/EST/cult area s/he clearly cares personally about. I guarantee you the articles you will find relate to people or a products that have something to gain from PR and not a general topic of interest.

Yeah, Nuke really sucks. Just ignore him.

I'm beginning to suspect that Cirt is Durova's sock. No, I can't offer any direct, provable link between the two accounts, other than a few general suspicions. Not that I give a rat-shit anyway. This is all pointless, Wikipedia is clearly a pile of damaged goods, and its overseers are a gang of fools.

Lise, dear, it's not that you're a bitch, and it's not that you're arrogant.
You simply don't have all that much talent, or even brains, to back it up.

Oh great, now I'm all nostalgic! I don't think you're alone in your speculation, though I have far less an informed opinion than yourself.

As of now, still no Durova edits at all since May 31. No "missing you"s, no talkpage entreaties to please come back, no nothing. It's so out of character I just can't help wondering about it - there was some apparent "vandalism" to her page a few days ago, but it was deleted before I saw what it was.

Something's up.

Well, there's a June 1 one, but you're basically correct. If you count that time as 4 AM GMT, indeed that's still May 31 in So. Cal.

I think I'll start a watch-thread in the editors' section.

I already suggested digging up Shoemaker's Holiday's cellar. Has he ever appeared at children's parties dressed as a clown?

I'm beginning to suspect that Cirt is Durova's sock.

Or perhaps a sock she shares with other people, for paid editing.
I'm trying to figure out a pattern, and there are very few clues.

Cirt has a tendency to write propaganda, either for or against. Some people do that naively, simply because they don't know the arguments of the other side, but Cirt does it quite consciously and adeptly.

Ken Dickson was one of those cases where someone has been cited in the local press a ton of times but he's done nothing of importance. Even I could not bring myself to vote keep as a rabid inclusionist. The article was a case of extreme puffery, and I was surprised to learn that its flowery lead sprung into the existence at the very first edit of its creation by Cirt. E.g., The 2nd sentence of the lead was about how Mr. Dickson learned his virtues from his Dad or something like that. Why write it like that? I have no idea.

I tried to rewrite the lead so one could see why he might be notable instead of it being four paragraphs of baloney. That's when I realized there was nothing to write. Essentially the guy is/was a member of the local school board and for one term its chair, and then was a failed candidate in the Republican primary for the local California Senate district, I believe. (He lost the primary earlier this month.) Cirt, who edits at superhuman speeds, was reverting my work lightning fast without discussion outside the edit summary. So I made a quick edit summary that the lead "SUCKS BALLS" to get his goddamn attention. Of course then he complains and drags me to the BLP noticeboard to ask whether BLP applies to edit summaries. Cirt also believed that the article needed to have a large four paragraph introduction because that's what Feature Articles have, though I noted that some things should never be Featured because then the word Feature will mean nothing. Some wikipedia entries deserve to be two paragraphs.

Of course, Ken Dickson is the same AFD where Herostratus mouthed off about the guy's lack of notability, which directly led to his dramafest recall RFA now in progress.

I would not have objected to the article being kept, but it needed an extreme puffery makeover. No intention of bashing Cirt in my post, I have come to enjoy his bot like posts on talk pages, we just disagreed strongly on this.

One of Ken Dickson's opponents in the CA state senate primary was Jeff Stone. He was IDed as a Scientology sympathizer and drew the ire of Operation Clambake and Why We Protest regulars, among others.

Too bad Dickson ended up getting many fewer votes than Stone.

Jeff Stone does not have a Wikipedia entry. Perhaps someone should drop him a hint.

And some people here say that Wikipedia doesn't matter! Of course it matters; it's one of the most visited web sites in the world. frighteningly many people use it as a source for information. We really need to give priority to digging out cases where it's being used in a way that could have unfortunate real-world implications, and this is an excellent example.

How could I get hold of a copy of the Kenneth Dickson article, which has now unfortunately been deleted by Vandenberg? That's the problem with Wikipedia: whenever you find a nice juicy bone, they bury it in the garden again.

<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the issue is settled -->
{{AfDM|page=Kenneth Dickson (2nd nomination)|year=2010|month=June|day=16|substed=yes|origtag=afdx}}
<!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Kenneth Dickson
|image = Kenneth Dickson.jpg
|imagesize = 150px
|alt =
|caption = Kenneth Dickson
|birth_date = 1949<ref name="incumbentscite" />
|birth_place = [[Emporia, Kansas]]
|nationality = [[United States|American]]
|other_names = Ken Dickson
|occupation = [[Lawyer]]<br/>Trustee, Murrieta school board
|residence = [[Murrieta, California]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Kansas]]<br/>[[Duke University Law School]]<br/>[[Air War College]]<br/>[[Air Command and Staff College]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse = Susan
|children = 2
|website = http://www.kcdickson2010.com/
|branch=[[United States Air Force]]
|serviceyears = 1974 – 1998
|rank=[[Lieutenant Colonel]]
|unit=[[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]]
}}
'''Kenneth C. Dickson''' (born 1949) is a [[lawyer]], retired [[Lieutenant Colonel]] from the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]], and [[California]] [[politician]] from the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. His father served in the [[United States Navy]] in [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]]. He was born in [[Emporia, Kansas]], and raised in [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]]. Dickson is married with two children, and moved with his family from [[San Diego, California]] to [[Murrieta, California]] in 1992. His wife worked in [[elementary education]] before becoming an educator for the Riverside County Office of Education. His son serves in the [[United States Air Force]].

Dickson received a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] from the [[University of Kansas]] and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from [[Duke University Law School]]. He served four years [[active duty]] in the U.S. Air Force, and an additional 20 years in the reserves. He was responsible for U.S. Air Force contract cases while at [[Travis Air Force Base]] in [[San Francisco, California]], and later was transferred along with his superior officer to [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] in [[Ohio]]. After completing his active duty service, his commanding officer recommended him as a law clerk for [[United States federal judge]] [[Howard Boyd Turrentine]] in [[San Diego, California]]. In 1998, Dickson retired from the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]] with the rank of [[Lieutenant Colonel]].

Dickson served on the Murrieta Community Services Commission from 1996 through 1999. He was appointed to the Murrieta School board in January 1998 to fill a vacant seat, and was reelected in 1999 and 2003. In 2004 he served as president of the school board; he ran unopposed for his third full term as a school board member in 2007. Dickson was a candidate for the Republican primary in the 2010 [[California State Senate]] 2010 election. He sought the 36th District seat of California State Senator [[Dennis Hollingsworth]], who was unable to run again for the position because of [[term limit]]s. The majority of individuals residing in the district are Republican, and Dickson faced [[California State Assembly]] member Republican [[Joel Anderson]] of [[Alpine, California]] in the June 8, 2010 primary for the Republican nomination. Dickson's campaign platform focused on the California state budget, [[Illegal immigration to the United States]], and environmental concerns. Dickson beat Joel Anderson in votes cast in the Republican primary in [[Riverside County, California]], but Anderson won the election itself; with Dickson receiving 20 percent of total votes.

==Early life and family==
Dickson's family is descended from [[Denmark]].<ref>{{cite news | title =Reunions: Dickson family | work = [[Emporia Gazette]] | date = June 22, 2009 }}</ref> His father Hiram B. Dickson was raised on a farm in [[Kansas]].<ref name="listening">{{cite news | last =Hunneman | first =John | title =Listening to their fathers: Southwest County leaders share words of wisdom from their dads | work =[[North County Times]] | publisher =www.nctimes.com | date =June 18, 2006 | url =http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/article_f8d885e7-f88c-501e-afcc-8d6d4d8b8070.html | accessdate = 2009-11-21 }}</ref><ref name="hirambdickson">{{cite news | title = Hiram B. Dickson | work = The Emporia Gazette | location =[[Emporia, Kansas]] | date =March 30, 2010 }}</ref> Hiram B. Dickson joined the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], where he was part of an underwater unit that conducted demolition operations.<ref name="listening" /> He later served during the [[Korean War]].<ref name="listening" /> He retired from the [[United States Naval Reserve]] with the rank of [[Commander]].<ref name="hirambdickson" /> After completing his time in the U.S. military Hiram B. Dickson was a teacher and principal of a high school in Kansas, and was an employee of the [[United States Civil Service Commission]].<ref name="listening" /> Dickson told the ''[[North County Times]]'', "The most profound thing Dad ever told me was that during that period of his life he spent many months absolutely terrified and that his daily prayer was that he would just be able to perform his duties with honor."<ref name="listening" /> Dickson was born in [[Emporia, Kansas]], and spent his early life in [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]].<ref name="rowe">{{cite news | last =Rowe | first =Jeff | title =Ken Dickson running for state Senate - Murrieta school board trustee challenging Stone for 36th District seat | work =[[North County Times]] | publisher =www.nctimes.com | date =July 25, 2009 | url =http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/article_f9435bee-60cc-59a3-b7b6-41402cd59bde.html | accessdate = 2009-11-21 }}</ref> His mother worked as a high school teacher and medical technologist.<ref name="rowe" /> Dickson's father died on March 27, 2010.<ref name="hirambdickson" />

Dickson moved with his family from [[San Diego, California]] to [[Murrieta, California]] in 1992.<ref name="attorney">{{cite news | last =Wilson | first =Wendy | title =Attorney named to school board - Murrieta trustees chose the 49-year-old father of two valedictorians for the vacancy. | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =January 7, 1998 }}</ref> Dickson is married and has two children.<ref name="incumbentscite" /> His wife Susan has served as an [[elementary school]] teacher in [[Temecula, California]].<ref name="attorney" /><ref>{{cite news | last =The Press-Enterprise staff | title =Davis assigns teacher tax cut: The governor proposes to exempt certain public school educators from the state levy on income. | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =A01 | date =May 14, 2000 }}</ref> In 1998 she was a fifth-grade teacher at [[Temecula Valley Unified School District]]'s Paloma Elementary School.<ref name="attorney" /> In 2009, Susan served as an educator for the Riverside County Office of Education.<ref name="biography" /> Both of their children graduated as [[valedictorian]]s from [[Murrieta Valley High School]], in 1995 and 1996.<ref name="attorney" /> His son graduated from the [[United States Air Force Academy]],<ref name="biography" /> serves as a C-17 instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and in 2009 was stationed in [[Alaska]].<ref name="rowe" />

==Education==
Dickson graduated from the [[University of Kansas]] with a [[bachelor of arts]] degree in [[economics]] in 1970.<ref name="incumbentscite" /><ref name="biography">{{cite news | title =Biography | work =Ken Dickson for California State Senate | publisher =www.kcdickson2010.net | date =2009 | url =http://www.kcdickson2010.net/ken-dickson.asp | accessdate = 2009-11-21 }}</ref> He received his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from [[North Carolina]]'s [[Duke University Law School]] in 1973.<ref name="incumbentscite" /><ref name="biography" /> As part of his military education, Dickson completed the National Security Management Course, and graduated from the [[Air War College]] and [[Air Command and Staff College]].<ref name="biography" />

==Career==
===United States Air Force===
Dickson served as a lawyer for the [[United States Air Force]].<ref name="incumbentscite" /> He was on [[active duty]] for four years, and served 20 more in the reserves.<ref name="rowe" /><ref name="reservists" /> Dickson was mentored by [[Colonel]] Dick Schulze, who schooled him in taking care of contract cases for the U.S. Air Force.<ref name="rowe" /> Col. Schulze supervised Dickson at [[Travis Air Force Base]] near [[San Francisco, California]] during the 1970s.<ref name="rowe" /> When Col. Schulze was transferred to [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] in [[Ohio]], he requested that Dickson be transferred with him.<ref name="rowe" /> After Schulze and Dickson had both finished their service as active duty officers, Schulze recommended his former protege to become a clerk for [[United States federal judge]] [[Howard Boyd Turrentine]] in [[San Diego, California]].<ref name="rowe" /> Dickson began working for Judge Turrentine in 1978.<ref name="rowe" /> Judge Turrentine told the ''North County Times'' that Dickson did a "great job" as a [[law clerk]].<ref name="rowe" />

After moving to Riverside County, California in 1992, Dickson served as an environmental attorney during the period of time where [[March Air Force Base]] was in the process of being changed into a business facility and reserve base.<ref name="rowe" /> He was supervised by Colonel Ronald Rakowsky.<ref name="rowe" /> Col. Rakowsky said that Dickson was an expert in contract law, and a hard worker, noting, "He was very much a team player, always asking, 'What else can I do to help?'"<ref name="rowe" /> Subsequent to his service at March Air Force Base, Dickson performed legal duties for the [[Air Force Space Command]] in [[Colorado]].<ref name="rowe" /> After 28 years of service to the U.S. Air Force, Dickson retired from the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air Force]] with the rank of [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in 1998.<ref name="rowe" /><ref name="reservists">{{cite news | last =Kelley | first =Rebecca | title =Military reservists work for school district| work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B03 | date =October 2, 2001 }}</ref><ref name="salmon" />

===Political career===
====Murrieta, California school board====
Dickson lost an election to the [[Murrieta, California]] school board in 1993, and also lost an election to the Murrieta City Council in 1994.<ref name="incumbentscite" /> He was again a candidate for Murrieta City Council in 1997.<ref name="slowgrowth">{{cite news | last =Garcia | first =Olivia | title =Slow-growth opponents gather to push message - They say passage of Measure UU will deter business in Murrieta | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B05 | date =November 1, 1997 }}</ref> Dickson opposed Measure UU,<ref name="vanhaaster">{{cite news | last =Garcia | first =Olivia | title =Murrieta City Council - Van Haaster nets a 2nd term | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =November 5, 1997 }}</ref> a proposal to slow business growth in Murrieta.<ref name="slowgrowth" /> He was among seventeen people competing for three seats on the city council.<ref>{{cite news| last = Petix| first = Mark | title =Murrieta and Temecula city council fields finalized - Seventeen will seek election in Murrieta race | work =[[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]]| publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B01 | date =August 14, 1997 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| publisher=The Press-Enterprise Co. | title = Murrieta City Council candidates| work =[[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | page =B02A | date =October 28, 1997 }}</ref> Dickson was not elected to the city council in 1997.<ref name="vanhaaster" /> Dickson served on the Murrieta Community Services Commission from 1996 through 1999, where he worked to foster a relationship between the city and the school district.<ref name="incumbentscite" /> In 1999 he represented the Murrieta school district as a member of the Murrieta steering committee, and in this position consulted with the City Council on ways to improve growth in the region.<ref name="incumbentscite" /> He applied to become a trustee of the Muerriete school board in December 1997, and was one of five candidates.<ref>{{cite news | title = Five apply for Murrieta school board - Trustees are scheduled to meet Jan. 6 to pick a successor for Al Christenson | work =[[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B03| date = December 20, 1997 }}</ref>

Dickson served as a Trustee of the Murrieta school board in 1998.<ref>{{cite news | last =Wilson | first =Wendy | title =Fewer days OK'd for Murrieta schools | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | page =B03 | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | date =April 30, 1998 }}</ref> He was appointed to the board in January 1998 to fill a seat vacacted by Al Christenson.<ref name="incumbentscite" /> In a unanimous decision, the school board voted 4-0 to appoint Dickson from the five candidates that applied for the position.<ref name="attorney" /> In 1999, he advocated for money from a Riverside County tobacco tax to be used to raise awareness about locations where individuals could receive immunizations, and to help provide transportation.<ref>{{cite news | last =Nash | first =James | title =Forum suggests uses for tobacco tax Immunizations and outreach top the list at the Murrieta session. It is one of 10 county health officials are holding. | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =August 21, 1999 }}</ref> During his 1999 campaign for reelection to the Murrieta school board, Dickson said his goals included increasing the safety of school facilities, and an emphasis on traditional teaching values.<ref name="incumbentscite">{{cite news | last =Nash | first =James | title =Incumbents cite school improvements: Ken Dickson , a Murrieta lawyer, says he will push for safer, stricter campuses and traditional teaching| work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date=September 29, 1999 }}</ref> He commented of his emphasis on academic accountability, "If you can't measure it, it very frequently isn't going to happen. I think I appreciate that there are aspects of education that are difficult to measure. If you can't articulate it or measure it, it seems that you can't have much assurance that it will make much sense."<ref name="incumbentscite" /> The incumbent school board president Judy Rosen supported Dickson's reelection, and described him as "experienced and qualified".<ref>{{cite news | last =Nash | first =James | title =Murrieta trustee race pits record vs critics: The challengers argue the incumbents have not been open to ideas from the public. | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B04 | date =October 30, 1999 }}</ref> He was one of seven candidates vying for three seats on the board.<ref>{{cite news| last = Nash| first =James | title = Voters get last word in low-key race: Three incumbents faced four challengers for three seats. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B08 | date =November 3, 1999 }}</ref> Dickson won reelection to a spot on the board,<ref>{{cite news | last =The Press-Enterprise staff | title =Inland area Election Results | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B06 | date =November 3, 1999 }}</ref> and began his first full term in January 2000.<ref name="murashko" /> One of his actions in the term was to vote in favor of the location Los Alamos Hills in Murrieta as the site of a new high school.<ref>{{cite news| last = Nash | first = James | title =Trustees decide on site of school: Los Alamos Hills will be home to Murrieta 's second high school. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date = January 15, 2000 }}</ref> Dickson supporting going forward with purchasing land for the school, called [[Vista Murrieta High School]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Murrieta Valley School Board - Board votes to buy land | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B03 | date = October 13, 2000 }}</ref> The proposal was due to expansion at the older school, the [[Murrieta Valley High School]].<ref>{{cite news| last =Nash | first =James | title =Older students may attend middle school: Delays in building Murrieta's second high school could force the move, a district official said. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B01 | date September 14, 2000 }}</ref> He supported reinforcing communication between the board and the public, through the addition of a public-relations office for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.<ref>{{cite news| last =Nash | first =James | title = Is Murrieta's school district listening? Yes, officials say | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B01 | date =December 31, 2000 }}</ref>

In July 2001, Dickson announced a bid for a seat on the Murrieta City Council.<ref name="murashko">{{cite news | last =Murashko | first =Alex | title =School board member Dickson announces Murrieta council run | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B03 | date =July 29, 2001 }}</ref> He said his goals included reducing conflict between city council members, and helping to "nurture political relationships" between stakeholders including the county, the school district, and public and private groups.<ref name="murashko" /> He was endorsed by the Murrieta Police Officers Association.<ref>{{cite news | title = Murrieta: Police, firefighters back 2 incumbents | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B03 | date =November 1, 2001 }}</ref> [[California State Assembly]] member, [[Dennis Hollingsworth]], contributed to Dickson's campaign for Murrieta City Council.<ref>{{cite news| last =Salmon | first = Rocky | title = Council hopefuls report finances: Elections: Temecula city candidates raise more money than Murrieta counterparts. | work =[[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date = February 1, 2002 }}</ref> Dickson campaigned on the issue of economic development within the region through coordination with other government agencies.<ref>{{cite news| last =Fisher | first = Michael | title = Candidates stress job creation: Murrieta : Attracting new business while managing growth is the main issue in the council race. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B01 | date =September 30, 2001 }}</ref> He was one of eleven candidates in the race for three seats on the city council.<ref>{{cite news | title = Semi-official results: Riverside county races | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B09 | date = November 8, 2001 }}</ref> As school trustee in 2002 amidst negotiations over teacher pay, Dickson voiced his high regard for staff while acknowledging it was difficult to balance this against budget financial obligations to the city.<ref>{{cite news| last = Vargo | first = Joe | title = Impasse declared in teacher pay talks : Murrietta Valley: The action will bring in a mediator and start the process again in May. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =April 20, 2002 }}</ref> In 2003, he served as a commissioner of the City of Murrieta Steering Committee and a member of the Murrieta Community Services Commission.<ref name="salmon">{{cite news | last =Salmon | first =Rocky | title =Board candidates weigh in | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =October 16, 2003}}</ref> During discussion over building a new high school for the [[Murrieta Valley Unified School District]], Dickson emphasized the need to be mindful of the cost of the project as balanced against the size of the building.<ref>{{cite news| last =Weaver | first = Bradley | title =Poll: Big is better : Murrieta : Most residents say the new high school should be a larger carbon copy of the current ones. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =September 18, 2003 }}</ref> He helped to investigate relevant laws regarding building a new [[charter school]] in the district called Santa Rosa Academy Charter School,<ref>{{cite news| last = Weaver| first =Bradley | title =District considers charter school : Murrieta : Trustees hear parental support for, and a staff recommendation against, the proposal. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B01 | date = May 9, 2003 }}</ref> and voted in favor of the school.<ref>{{cite news| last =Weaver | first = Bradley| title = Charter school appeal studied: Murrieta : A key advocate says he is not ready to let the school board's decision end the matter. | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher = The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date = May 13, 2003 }}</ref>

As a candidate for Murrieta school board in 2003, his main issues included keeping up ties with residents in the area and the school board, and working on a new high school in the region.<ref name="salmon" /> He was one of eight candidates vying for two seats on the board.<ref>{{cite news | title = Last filing date passes for most area elections | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B01| date = August 9, 2003 }}</ref> After a close race,<ref>{{cite news| last = Weaver | first =Bradley | title = Murrieta school race unsettled | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page = B08 | date = November 6, 2003 }}</ref> he was reelected to the position as a school board trustee.<ref>{{cite news | last =Weaver | first =Bradley | title =Final results in on school board race: Murrieta : Absentee ballots put incumbent Kenneth Dickson ahead of trustee Judy Rosen. | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date =November 8, 2003 }}</ref> In 2004, Dickson was the president of the school board.<ref>{{cite news | last =Lou | first =Linda | title =Police step up patrols at schools | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | date =May 22, 2004 | url =http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_News_Local_spatrols23.5839b.html | accessdate = 2009-11-21}}</ref> In 2006, Dickson considered a candidacy for [[California's 66th State Assembly district]], but chose not to pursue it and the seat went to [[Kevin Jeffries]].<ref name="rowe" /> Dickson was unopposed in the 2007 Murrieta school board election.<ref>{{cite news| last = Bustamante| first = Claudia | title = In brief: Murrieta| work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B02a | date =August 14, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="rowe" /> After the school board came to an agreement with teachers to avoid layoffs during a budget crisis, Dickson commented to ''[[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]]'', "This is a good result in a difficult situation. We have done a tremendous benefit to our community by saving jobs."<ref>{{cite news| last =Klampe | first = Michelle L. | title =Murrieta school board rescinds layoff notices | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | language =[[Riverside, California]] | page = A12 | date = April 28, 2010 }}</ref>

====California State Senate campaign====
In 2009, Dickson was an instructor at [[Mount San Jacinto College]], where he led courses in [[immigration law]] and introduction to law.<ref name="rowe" /> In June 2009, Dickson filed papers to run as a Republican for the [[California State Senate]] in the 2010 election.<ref>{{cite news | last =PE Politics | title =Murrieta school board member joins Senate race | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | date =June 25, 2009 | url =http://blogs.pe.com/politics/2009/06/murrieta-school-board-members.html | accessdate = 2009-11-21 }}</ref><ref name="countyleaders">{{cite news | last =Glick | first =Julia | title =County leaders build war chests - fundraising: With elections almost a year away, several have added hundreds of thousands to their campaign coffers. | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =D1 | date =August 8, 2009 }}</ref> Dickson sought the 36th District seat of California State Senator [[Dennis Hollingsworth]], was unable to run again for the position because of [[term limit]]s.<ref name="countyleaders" /><ref name="flap">{{cite journal | last =O'Leary | first =Tim | title =Funding flap draws wait-and-see responses from potential Republican rivals for state Senate seat | journal =The Valley News | volume =9 | issue =44 | publisher =www.myvalleynews.com | date =October 30, 2009 |url=http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/41828/|accessdate=2009-11-13}}</ref> He faced Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone in the June 8, 2009 primary for the Republican nomination,<ref name="countyleaders" /> along with [[California State Assembly]] member Republican [[Joel Anderson]] of [[Alpine, California]].<ref name="countyleaders" /><ref name="flap" /><ref name="orwasit" /> Other candidates in the Republican primary included Greg Stephens from [[Poway]] and Xanthi Gionis from [[Temecula]].<ref>{{cite news| last = Gang | first = Duane W.| coauthors =Imran Ghori, Jim Miller | title = Candidates now set for June 8 primary | work = [[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | location = [[Riverside, California]] | page = A2 | date = March 16, 2010 }}</ref> The majority of individuals residing in the district are Republican.<ref>{{cite news | last =Rowe | first =Jeff | title =Region: Combo of tax entities could save money - Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization to take first dance | work =[[North County Times]] | publisher =www.nctimes.com | date =August 3, 2009 | url =http://nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/article_55694c39-79fd-5a8c-980a-3a439602e053.html | accessdate = 2009-11-21 }}</ref>

Dickson, Stone, and Anderson were all at a Republican party fundraising dinner in July 2009,<ref name="flap" /> where the three were introduced as candidates for the State Senate.<ref name="hopefuls">{{cite journal|title=Three state Senate hopefuls share Republican limelight|journal=The Valley News|date=July 4, 2009|first=Tim|last=O'Leary|coauthors=|volume=13|issue=27 |url=http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/39054/|format=|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=www.thevillagenews.com}}</ref> In an interview with ''The Valley News'' at the event, Dickson said he was a [[Reagan Republican]].<ref name="hopefuls" /> Dickson held a gathering to start his campaign on November 14, 2009, at the home of local friends in Temecula, California.<ref name="flap" /> Dickson is a member of the Murrieta-Temecula Republican group, described by ''The Valley News'' as "one of the largest and most active in the nation".<ref name="hopefuls" /> Anderson officially announced his candidacy on March 4, 2010; prior to that there was months of speculation as to whether he would actually enter the race.<ref>{{cite news| last =Clock | first = Michele | title = Anderson announces state Senate run | work =[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] | location = [[San Diego, California]] | publisher = Union-Tribune Publishing Co. | page = B-3 | date = March 4, 2010 }}</ref> Both Stone and Dickson planned their campaigns for the likelihood that Anderson would enter the race for the Republican nomination.<ref name="flap" /> When asked by ''The Valley News'' for his take on Anderson's position, Dickson commented that he was focusing on his own campaign.<ref name="flap" /> "I've got a lot of work to do and I’m going to do it," said Dickson.<ref name="flap" />

Dickson told the ''North County Times'' that his campaign platform focused on three key areas: the California state budget, [[Illegal immigration to the United States]], and environmental concerns.<ref name="rowe" /> "We have deferred paying for what we consume and undermined the values that helped build this country," commented Dickson on the budget issues in California.<ref name="rowe" /> Asked why he decided to run for California State Senate, Dickson said, "I feel called to articulate the issues that are important to the district."<ref name="rowe" /> At a political debate held on March 18, 2010, Dickson noted that politicians must address businesses leaving California due to issues including taxation and environmental regulation.<ref name="budgetmisery">{{cite news| last = Gang | first = Duane W. | title = Budget misery primary topic of GOP debate | work =[[The Riverside Press-Enterprise]] | language = [[Riverside, California]] | page = A12| date = May 19, 2010 }}</ref> He stated that if a Republican were elected to the California State Senate they would be in the minority party, and would require the skills, "to cajole, shame, argue, negotiate for our values. That is a skill set I believe I have better than any of my opponents."<ref name="budgetmisery" /> Dickson garnered second place in the Republican primary in [[Riverside County, California]] – above Joel Anderson.<ref name="orwasit">{{cite news| title =Anderson wins - or was it Stone? | work = East County Magazine| publisher = eastcountymagazine.org| date =June 9, 2010 | url = http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/3512 | accessdate = 2010-06-10}}</ref> However, he lost the overall election to Anderson, and received 20 percent of the total votes cast.<ref>{{cite journal| issue=23|volume=14 | title = Anderson leads Supervisor Stone for 36th Senate race | journal =Valley News | date =June 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Primary voting tables | work = [[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] | location =[[San Diego, California]] | publisher = Union-Tribune Publishing Co. | page = A-10 | date =June 9, 2010 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal box|California|Politics}}
*[[Politics of California]]
*[[Riverside County, California]]
*[[Riverside, California]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite news | last =Hunneman | first =John | title =Listening to their fathers: Southwest County leaders share words of wisdom from their dads | work =[[North County Times]] | publisher =www.nctimes.com | date =June 18, 2006 | url =http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/article_f8d885e7-f88c-501e-afcc-8d6d4d8b8070.html }}
*{{cite news | last =Nash | first =James | title =Incumbents cite school improvements: Ken Dickson , a Murrieta lawyer, says he will push for safer, stricter campuses and traditional teaching| work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | page =B01 | date=September 29, 1999 }}
*{{cite news | last =Rowe | first =Jeff | title =Ken Dickson running for state Senate - Murrieta school board trustee challenging Stone for 36th District seat | work =[[North County Times]] | publisher =www.nctimes.com | date =July 25, 2009 | url =http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/article_f9435bee-60cc-59a3-b7b6-41402cd59bde.html }}

==External links==
*[http://www.kcdickson2010.com/ Ken Dickson: Candidate for California State Senate]
*[http://kcdickson2010.com/ken-dickson.asp Biography], at kcdickson2010.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickson, Kenneth}}
[[Category:Living people]]
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