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Star Newsman Visits Auburn — John Trumbo, the most dogged investigative
newspaper reporter to have ever worked in this territory, was back in
town for a few hours last week to say hello to some old friends. That’s
Trumbo on the left next to Wayne White, Auburn’s retired chief building
official. I snapped the photo at Depoe Bay, where John enjoyed some tea
while Wayne and I slurped java. By the time you read this John will be
back at the McClatchy-owned—Tri-City Herald in Kennewick WA, batting
out some more prize-winning and always hard-hitting news stories.
* * * POLITICAL PLUMBING — Well, the supervisors finally got around to
socking it to Michelle Ollar-Burris again. They’re using the opinions
of a Chico lawyer — hired as a “special counsel” for at least $20,000,
with more to come — as the basis for a civil lawsuit against Michelle,
whose own legal specialist Bill Abbott believes she’s done nothing
wrong. Kicking Michelle off the county planning commission wasn’t
enough for these guys. Now it appears they want to take away her
livelihood. Ease up, gang. It’s a safe bet that Ollar-Burris won’t be
laying any moolah on Supervisor Bruce Kranz’s re-election bid next
June. Kranz, who appointed her to the commission early in his initial
term, was among the first to throw her over the side after the
Sacramento Bee’s articles several months ago...In another matter, Kranz
barely succeeded this week in getting his pal Larry Jordan, a
Foresthill logger, appointed to the county agricultural commission. His
motion to name Jordan to the ag panel was seconded by Kirk Uhler, with
Rocky Rockholm casting the swing vote. These three comprise the board’s
conservative bloc, and I’m sure that all three are still in Congressman
J.T. Doolittle’s corner. Supervisors Robert Weygandt and Jim Holmes,
the more moderate board members (all five are registered Republicans,
in case you didn’t know), opposed the Jordan appointment, politely
preferring Allen Edwards, a Colfax area timberland owner. During the
debate I found myself remembering how in 2006 Kranz opposed Weygandt’s
re-election bid by endorsing Jerry Simmons, a Sierra College trustee,
for the board’s District 2 seat. It was the first time in all my
decades up here that a sitting supervisor had openly opposed the
re-election of a board colleague. I see where Simmons will be up for
re-election to the Sierra College board in next November’s general
election, and I wonder if Kranz will be backing him again. Of course,
if the anti-Kranz movement has its way, Bruce just might be a lame duck
supervisor next November. His own re-election will be decided on the
June primary ballot...In addition to recalling the Kranz-Simmons
affair, I started noticing the kissers on the five board members, their
lawyer Tony LaBouff and Tom Miller, the CEO. So here goes with some
observant trivia: Uhler, LaBouff and Kranz are clean-shaven. Miller
still has a moustache while Rockholm, Holmes and Weygandt sport gray
beards. In fact, Weygandt’s beard is getting so gray it’s almost white
and he’s been offered work as a Santa Claus for kids’ Christmas
parties...Final board note: the supervisors did not dispense one penny
of general fund “revenue sharing” money this week. Think about it. * * * DOOLITTLE DRIPPINGS — The embattled congressman was back in the
district last week and this week during the House of Representatives’
Thanksgiving recess, still shaking hands and reaffirming his intention
to seek a 10th term in next year’s primary election and, he hopes,
general election. He’s still being targeted for defeat in June by at
least two fellow Republicans: Auburn’s Mike Holmes and Roseville’s Eric
Egland. A third possible primary opponent is rookie Assemblyman Ted
Gaines, who’s still waiting to see if JTD opts not to run again. I’ve
never taken a congressional stab by Gaines very seriously. He doesn’t
have the cajones to actually take on Doolittle, his financial
benefactor and political mentor, so he’ll probably end up running for
re-election to the Assembly’s 4th District seat next year and winning
by a large margin. I still say the U.S. Justice Department has had more
than enough time to get the goods on Doolittle and get him indicted —
IF he’s broken the law. If he hasn’t, the feds ought to get off his
back and issue a ringing announcement giving him a clear
slate...Charlie Brown, the Democrat who almost beat JTD in 2006 and is
still trying for the 4th C.D. seat, turns 58 on December 13 and
there’ll be a big party for him in the Roseville Opera House, starting
at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $12.13 to $58, with the dough going to
Brown’s campaign. Check the Charlie Brown for Congress website for more
details. * * * ROUNDABOUT — Congratulations to my pal Steve Aronowitz for passing the
State Bar exam. Other State Bar passers from the Auburn area are Lauren
Bartlett, Robert W. Canny, Jeremy Goldberg and Mary Carol
Polansky-Gravatt (two familiar last names). Bryan A. Jackson of Lincoln
passed and so did Emily Michelle Roberts of Loomis. New lawyers with
Roseville addresses are David A. Ziring, Christina Lofthouse, Mark
Gleason, Anthony Daye and Rebecca Ann Bon. And thanks to Placer County
Law Library Chief Chris Christman for passing along this good
news!...Another friend, sculptor Neil Williams, has some of his work on
display in the renowned Diane and Sandy Besser collection now being
shown in San Francisco’s deYoung Museum. Take a bow, Neil!...Tim
Hovanscek, the first golf pro at the old Twelve Bridges operation, has
been named head men’s golf coach at Sierra College, which is now Big
Time in jaycee golf circles. A great move by Sierra Athletic Director
John Volek, Placer High ’64...The Save Clover Valley Coalition down
Rocklin way will hold a fundraiser for the “NO on Measure H” campaign
this Friday the 30th, starting at 6 p.m., at 3740 Clover Valley Road.
The cost is $25 and do call Allison at (916) 435-4845 and tell her how
many tickets you need.
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Here's a scoop - Simmons is going to retire.
Eric Hogue - the guy running "contingent" for the 4thAD raised 5-figures last night and had 100 people at his fund raiser. That is big news considering it is all grass roots without any organizational or local endorsements. (except a blogger or two