Joe Carroll's Auburn Augur column, a Sentinel staple for years, focuses on politics at all levels -- and plenty of other things. Even the politicians who get skewered in his often irreverent pieces respect him as an old time newsman who knows his stuff. In addition to newspaper experience in San Francisco and Placer County, Joe spent 15 years as a state legislative aide, working for both Republicans and Democrats. He describes many politicians as "people who shake your hand before the election and your confidence afterward."
THE MONEY TREE — The fundraising frenzy is underway in two of the three Placer County supervisorial races that will be on the June ballot. District 5’s Bruce Kranz leads the pack with almost $90,000 in the till as of last New Year’s Eve. His largest contributor, Royal Gorge LLC, which kicked in $15,000 in earlier reporting periods, was not mentioned in the latest financial report. Squaw Valley Ski Corporation leads the most recently posted data with $10,000. There were $5,000 contributions from Placer Vineyards, Tom Winn of Lennar Communities and Jim Regas of Oak Brook IL (who kicked in plenty to Alice Dowdin’s abortive supervisorial race in 2004); a $4,000 gift from developer Jim Conkey; and $3,000 contributions from Nella Oil Company and Auburn Manor Holding; and lesser contributions from United Auburn Indian Community, Alpine Sierra Ventures and the CDF Firefighters Union. One of Kranz’s possible opponents, Jennifer Montgomery of Soda Springs, reported receiving $15,699 as of December 31, much of it from owners of Serene Lakes properties opposed to Royal Gorge LLC’s plans for a huge development in that area. She also got dough from State Probate Referee Kevin Eckard and retired Appellate Judge Bill Newsom...District 4 Supervisor Kirk Uhler reported taking in $45,265, most of which came from Placer Ranch and other development interests. District 3’s Jim Holmes reported that as of December 31 his campaign treasury contained a mere $3,096, with $1,000 from Baxter Grade rancher Mike Baxter the largest contribution. Unlike Kranz and Uhler, Holmes is expected to be unopposed for a second term.
HI AGAIN – Gee, I just realized that the opus I didn’t write for last week marked the first time I missed one in more than 800 editions. I was laid low by illness and I’m so thankful for the folks at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Emergency and ICU for their great work to save my hide and for the blessing that Father Glenn Dare was kind enough to bestow. I also appreciate the scores of phone calls, letters, cards, etc. from friends – and even some I didn’t think were friends – who wished me well.
NICE PEOPLE – It’s an old photo but I like to run it occasionally just to show how politicians can differ on some matters but still remain friends. That’s my favorite new mother, lovely Alice Dowdin Calvillo, laughing at the words of advice she’s receiving from Mike Holmes, my favorite old salt. Actually, both are former Auburn mayors and were city council members a few years ago when Peekaboo Pennington snapped the picture. Fast forward to this week: Mike has pulled out of the race to replace John T. Doolittle in Congress while Governor Schwarzenegger has rewarded Alice, his chief deputy cabinet secretary in recent years, with a $128,109-per-year seat on the State Employment Relations Board. Now let’s go back to 2004. Alice was running for a $30,000-a-year seat on the Placer County Board of Supervisors and her general election opponent was Jim Holmes, a retired automotive repair shop owner and the kid brother of Mike Holmes. It was a tough battle all the way and I was obliged to root for Jim Holmes after Alice’s candidacy was heartily endorsed by Mr. Doolittle, who also pointed her in the direction of hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars. And Mike Holmes sure as blazes campaigned for his sibling. In the long run, Alice’s loss was a big win for her. She certainly never would have progressed in state government as far as she has if she were sitting as a Placer County supervisor (and having to run for re-election this year like Jim Holmes). And she might not have married Frank Calvillo, the handsome retired leatherneck who at last report was handling security matters for the governor.
BIRTHDAY GIRL — Why commence an opus with the messy congressional situation when it can be led off with a photo of a beautiful woman and a couple of her admirers? So here she is — Linda Robinson, Auburn’s No. 1 blonde bombshell, with Mayor Keith Nesbitt on the left and Vice Mayor Mike Holmes on the right. The occasion was Linda’s 65th birthday party at the Tahoe Club, an event attended by scores of her relatives, friends and Sun River Clothing Co. business associates. Whatever fountain of youth this gal is tapping, I wish she’d bottle a couple of gallons for us aging swingers. She’s gotta look 20 years younger than what her Medicare card says.
WILL HE OR WON’T HE? — Congressman John Taylor Doolittle, still the target of a marathon corruption investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, is to meet with supporters in his Roseville district office this Thursday (too late for this edition) to confirm or deny reports that (1) he’ll run for a 10th term this year (filing opens February 11), or (2) he’ll not run and instead “retire” from politics, at least until his situation cools down (meaning the feds either clear him or get a grand jury to indict him). The Thursday session is being called a Team Doolittle briefing, and in the e-mail invitations he sent out John says, “I am eager to get your perspective on numerous issues currently facing our country. I hope you will feel free to share with me any question or comment you may have.” That certainly doesn’t sound like he’ll be quitting. On the other hand, House Republican bigshots supposedly have been urging him not to run because Democrat Charlie Brown probably will beat him and they want to make sure that the 4th Congressional District, where GOP voters overwhelmingly outnumber Democrats, remains in safe Republican hands. Some reports are to the effect that Doolittle has already decided to retire from Congress and will support former State Assemblyman and Senator T. Rico Oller, a lightweight if there ever was one, as his successor. However, a decision by JTD that he’s stepping down would be construed by many constituents as a tacit admission that the feds might have some heavy stuff on him. But if he does quit, would this mean a knockdown primary fight in June among Oller, Assemblyman Ted Gaines, Auburn Councilman Mike Holmes and perhaps other Republicans interested in going for a vacant House seat? Stay tuned.
