Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Russ Steele, the “fired” Union columnist (to use his own words) and a very conservative blogger at that, has a posting on his site that Gloria Zane was stealing the limelight from clerk-recorder candidate Barry Pruett’s fundraiser at Goomba’s on Sunday night. Russ, George Rebane and Aaron Klein all sat together, according to Russ.

The speeches were short, but “everyone was asking, who is Gloria Zane?” according to Russ.

Here’s what I wrote on Russ’ blog: “Sounds like Pruett and perhaps the whole local GOP is in deep trouble to me if this is the focus of the dinner-table banter. People will also remember how Aaron Klein, a ‘nonpartisan’ Sierra College Trustee from another county, no less, endorsed a ‘nonpartisan’ clerk recorder w/o even meeting the incumbent.

“What’s he doing at Goomba’s on a Sunday night for an election where he can’t even vote? What’s his political future going to be? I’m already hearing that buzz over at the Rood Center and elsewhere.

“Exit question? Will Sue Horne get hurt too, for calling George and Russ ‘community leaders.’ And what about Tom McClintock, whose staffer is Pruett’s wife. Seems like the stakes are getting higher by the moment. It will be interesting to compare notes after the June election. By the way, no, I’m not Gloria Zane. Are you?”

No doubt Tom is counting on the Pruett’s et al. to “bring home the bacon” for the GOP in a county where he got whipped. Trouble is, the local GOP is split, as exemplified by the county assessor’s race between Horne and Rolf Kleinhans. Many die-hard GOP’ers are backing Rolf, not Sue.

In addition, Pruett is not winning any endorsements from conservative supervisors. (In fact, Nate Beason has endorsed incumbent Greg Diaz). And the Democrats and many “decline to states” are getting more turned off by the local GOP’s “in your face” approach by the day.

The election isn’t until June, either. Get out your muck boots.

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Gregory Diaz has responded to my voluntary questions posed of the local political candidates. The previous responses (from Sue Horne, Rolf Kleinhans and Keith Royal) are here and here.

Do you agree that our supposedly nonpartisan elections have become partisan? Why?

Gregory Diaz responds:
“I do believe that elections for nonpartisan positions have become much more political.

“One reason for this is that some see the office of Clerk-Recorder as a stepping stone to higher office. Across the country, many highly political and partisan organizations — are running candidates for minor office — county functions, school boards, fire districts, public utility districts — to groom these folks for higher office — State Assembly and Senate and Congress.

“My opponent is a leader with a highly partisan organization and has assumed the role of campaign chairperson in Nevada County of a highly partisan ballot initiative – two roles that are in direct conflict with the responsibilities of a Clerk-Recorder to be a ‘neutral arbiter’ of elections and that would dramatically undermine the Clerk-Recorder’s most sacred duty – to protect your vote.

“It is disturbing that my opponent has engaged in such a harsh, personal and negative campaign for this position. These tactics are inappropriate for any political campaign, but for the campaign for Clerk-Recorder particularly, they suggest a fundamental lack of understanding of the role of a Clerk-Recorder, which requires neutrality and collaboration.

“In the end, it comes down to this: Do the voters of Nevada County want a blatantly political operative to have control over their ballot and be charged with ensuring an accurate and fair elections process?

“I am decidedly non-partisan and, consistent with one of the primary duties of the office to be a neutral facilitator of elections, am registered as Decline-to-State. I believe it is essential for one who conducts elections to be strictly nonpartisan, administering and counting the vote without even a hint or shading of bias toward one side or another.

“Professionalism over politics and fair elections over blatant partisanship are the values and attributes a Clerk-Recorder must possess. There must be public trust in the Registrar’s ability to administrate the office impartially, as this is the very basis for our democracy.”

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The Grass Valley City Council on Tuesday will read a proclamation honoring St. Mary’s Academy, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in May, and some parents and teachers will be on hand to accept it.

WHEREAS, One hundred and fifty years ago, Father Thomas Dalton began a school in the heart of California’s Gold Country, here in Grass Valley known as Mt. St. Mary’s; and

WHEREAS, several years later he asked the Sisters of Mercy to teach at the school and open an orphanage and the Sisters of Mercy continue to be the face of Mt. St. Mary’s having served Nevada County as an orphanage, convent, business school,
high school and currently as an elementary school; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Mt. St. Mary’s almost closed, but support of the faculty, parents, parishioners and community allowed the school to continue the tradition of inspiring and motivating students; and

WHEREAS, Mt. St. Mary’s has an enrollment of 126 students from Pre-K thru 8th grade with their standard curriculum including Spanish, Music, PE, Art and Computer Classes, students and faculty are also expected to model Catholic Values; and

WHEREAS, as the oldest continuously operating Catholic School west of the Mississippi they will be celebrating their 150 year anniversary, May 1st and 2nd, 2010 with a weekend full of events including a special Mass dedicated to their celebration on Sunday, May 2, 2010;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Mayor and Council of the City of Grass Valley, that May 1st and 2nd, 2010, be celebrated at Mt. St. Mary’s in honor of their 150 year anniversary.

Dated this 13th day of April, 2010

I’d like to thank Dan Holler and Kristi Bashor at City Hall, as well as Mayor Lisa Swarthout and each of the council members, for helping me with and supporting this project (an historic milestone) on behalf of the school. It’s one of the upsides of a small-town lifestyle.

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The documentary about Gary Snyder “The Practice of the Wild,” produced by poet Jim Harrison and venture capitalist and ex-newspaper publisher Will Hearst, debuts May 3 and 5 at the San Francisco Film Festival, I wrote earlier.

Will weighed in here on the weekend with this comment: “Both Gary and Jim will attend the ‘premiere’ on May 3rd at the S.F. Kabuki Theater — 7 p.m. They will answer audience questions after the showing. I’m trying to get Jerry Brown to be the moderator. And thanks for the blog post!”

I’m sure it will be a well-attended event: We’re going. Will and I have known each other for years, and it was a pleasant surprise to hear about his project with one of our locals. I’d like to work with Will to get the film shown up here — at the Del Oro.

Pulitzer-prize winning poet Snyder, one of our most famous and talented residents, lives on the Ridge. Will (the grandson of William Randolph Hearst) has formed San Simeon Films.

Some behind the scenes footage is here.

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