Here are some quotes from conversations I’ve had or overheard about the June election which I think are amusing, and perhaps mildly educational. I’m leaving names out, even for those who said they wouldn’t mind.
….
“Who is she (Karen Brooks) kidding? Those signs trying to appeal to hippies look more like a graphic from the Partridge Family. If we were mostly a black community would she be trying to sing hip hop? It’s almost insulting!”
….
85-year-old Fortuna woman on Clif: “I like Clif, but he doesn’t want a Wal-Mart. Some of us are on fixed incomes and I want to see a Wal-Mart in Fortuna. I will probably vote for him but he better behave himself until June!”
….
“I’m being disenfranchised here. My house used to be in the First District, so I didn’t get to vote in the Fourth District election last time. Now I’ve been moved into the Fourth District, so I don’t get to vote this time either!”
….
“Is Rex running for Baseball Commissioner?” (in reference to his signs)
….
“I have nothing against Clif. I like him. But maybe we finally have a chance to have direct Southern Humboldt representation for the first time ever. I don’t want to pass up on a chance like that. But Clif grows the best mutsu apples I’ve ever had!”
….
“I was listening to KGOE the other morning. A Stacey Lawson commercial came up and I switched over to KHUM only to hear the second half of the commercial right where I had left it. It was like I had changed to the same station. Synchronicity. Maybe this has something to do with her New Age spirituality. A harmonic convergence or something?”
….
“If everybody who supports Norman Solomon would vote for Norman Solomon, Norman Solomon would win. Haven’t we heard this before?”
….
“The debates are going to be boring. Now, I would like to see a debate between Mark Lovelace and Rex Bohn. Why don’t they set that one up?”
….
“Can you tell me what position any of the First District candidates are taking on the Shell wind project? It’s a mystery to me.”
….
“From a distance it’s hard to tell the difference between Mark’s (Lovelace) signs and Jared Huffman’s.”
….
“There’s an election in June??!”
50 comments
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April 21, 2012 at 1:19 pm
JR
Eric-you made me chuckle! Hope you are enjoying this beautiful Spring day as much as I am.
April 21, 2012 at 1:45 pm
HUUFC
My comment after the debate last month in Fortuna was “did all of the democrats smoking dope before they went onstage” ?
April 21, 2012 at 1:45 pm
HUUFC
Whoops, “smoke”.
April 21, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Guest
Marian Brady, our City Council member in Eureka designed Karen Brooks campaign signs
If they have people taking, then they must be effective!
April 21, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Eric Kirk
People are definitely talking about them. As to the effect, well, I’m not sure.
She is outspending Mark. It reminds me of the old Ron Dellums campaigns, where he was outspent sometimes 8 to 1 and yet would take over 70 percent of the vote. His reaction to the spending against him? He said that it’s good for the local economy, and makes him look even better.
April 21, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Not A Native
(sigh) Be careful what you wish for. Unfortunately, I anticipate I’ll be hearing debates between Lovelace and Bohn….
FWIW, concerning disenfranchisement. At a redistricting meeting in Blue Lake, a number of people said: “I don’t want to be put in Arcata”
April 21, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Eric Kirk
NAN – and that will give Karen Brooks a few more votes, and make it harder for Ryan to win the next time around. But there wasn’t really a choice. Blue Lake was almost the perfect size to make up for the difference between districts.
April 21, 2012 at 5:47 pm
John Chiv
Eric my favorite was, “There’s an election in June??!” Thanks for the humor much needed when things get political locally.
April 21, 2012 at 6:55 pm
gpf
Here’s one I heard in Rio Dell today: “I don’t know too much about Estelle, but I know I really don’t like that guy who’s there now. I’ll vote for Estelle, and you can put a sign on my lawn.”
April 21, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Anonomous
clifs campaign workers are some of the most vile negative people, and THEIVES a clif worker was seen stealing a fennell sign, running across the road in lower redway with it right where he had his sandwich board with balloons for truits party. creeps
that fennell sign was on someones private property
April 21, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Eric Kirk
9:25 – why do I get the feeling that you’re going to refuse to name this “clif worker?”
Here’s one I heard in Rio Dell today: “I don’t know too much about Estelle, but I know I really don’t like that guy who’s there now. I’ll vote for Estelle, and you can put a sign on my lawn.”
Let me guess. He doesn’t like Plan A?
And in other news, the discussion about the local Democrats and their endorsements has been revived at Samoa Softball. Richard’s position is that various Democrats have been wronged by the process, including Estelle, Dan Hauser, Worth Dikeman, Mari Wilson, and Dan Hauser.
http://www.samoasoftball.blogspot.com/2012/04/humboldt-countydemocratic-central.html
April 22, 2012 at 6:49 am
gpf
“Let me guess. He doesn’t like Plan A?”
What he said was he really did not like Clif. He was unhappy that Clif seemed to be representing the Arcata area and not his own district.
April 22, 2012 at 9:29 am
Anonymous
Eric: Estelle was endorsed by the HCDCC 4 years ago. Dan Hauser was endorsed many times as a Assemblyperson.
What made Estelle a bad Democrat between 4 years ago and now? The HCDCC claim she is “anti” environment because of her HUMCPR involvement? The HCDCC tent is very small indeed.
April 22, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Sonia Baur
McChesney, the media guru says that ads are most useful (to play upon emotions) when there is no substantial difference between the products.
April 22, 2012 at 12:53 pm
knot-ed
gpf, maybe you should have told the person in Rio Dell that estelle is the gal who got it wrong on the HiWay 101 STIP/SHOP funding, got it wrong when she said “the county is gonna try and kick you off your land”, and wasn’t even aware of the Eureka Waterfront Drive issue.
That explains estelle rather nicely.
April 22, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Eric Kirk
What he said was he really did not like Clif. He was unhappy that Clif seemed to be representing the Arcata area and not his own district.
And did he also complain that Clif doesn’t return his phone calls?
April 22, 2012 at 2:31 pm
mresquan
Sohummers who are intent on sending a message that Clif is aligned deeply with Arcata politics are making a huge mistake and are pissing off Fortuna voters who simply know and like Clif,and really see Estelle as being more likely to align with Arcatans on many other issues,the exception being the GPU.
April 22, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Anonymous
Sohummers who are intent on sending a message that Clif is aligned deeply with Arcata politics are making a huge mistake and are pissing off Fortuna voters who simply know and like Clif,and really see Estelle as being more likely to align with Arcatans on many other issues,the exception being the GPU.
I don’t think that’s true anymore. Maybe it used to be.
April 22, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, if the point is that some people in Rio Dell and Fortuna think that Clif is too liberal, it’s not one I can argue with. But I doubt they are quite as obsessed with Arcata in particular as some in Sohum, largely due to the GPU political dynamics.
April 23, 2012 at 7:06 am
gpf
ESTELLE FENNEL 28.4 + 31.9 = 60.3%
CLIF CLENDENEN 39.69%
April 23, 2012 at 8:04 am
Anonnymoose
overheard in SoHum ” There are 2 reasons to not vote for Estelle. 1. She lies and 2 she cheats.”
April 23, 2012 at 8:46 am
Eric Kirk
gpf – you’re assuming that the bulk of Johanna’s supporters will vote for Estelle. But I can tell you that quite a few are voting for Clif. I don’t have a percentage, because some of them are clearly voting for Estelle. But a good number are voting for Clif. And some former Estelle supporters as well. On the other hand, Clif has lost a few supporters because he’s seen as “too liberal.” Will these people vote for Estelle, or sit out the election? Guess we’ll find out in June.
April 24, 2012 at 7:39 am
gpf
Reflection on the Monday debate: Clif is a handsome man who stands tall, and is unmoved when hearing good or bad. He certainly knows how to ‘walk the walk’.
Estelle was also looking good and connected. She can ‘walk the walk’ but more important can also ‘talk the talk’.
April 24, 2012 at 8:02 am
Anonymous
Why wasn’t this debate broadcast on KMUD?
April 24, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Mike Losey, Fortuna
I attended the forum in Fortuna and Clif made many good points and stayed on course, not rolling his eyes and always taking the high road. There were several questions in which he could have hit hard, but chose not to, again being the gentleman. It is clear he has an avantage in knowing the details and explaining what those details are. His opponent just assumed people knew what she was talking about when in fact, many did not. Advantage Clif! Mike Losey.
April 24, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Jim Ferguson
Well, Mike, I attended the debate in Fortuna yesterday and must say I couldn’t disagree with you more. Taking an informal survey afterwards, the majority of people I spoke to said Estelle won hands down.
And since we’re posting under our own names, while people know I’m helping Estelle, and Eric is a Clif supporter, people in SoHum might not know you are one of Clif’s main people and to take what you say with a grain of salt, just like they do my comments.
Estelle has upwards of 100 local businesses supporting her and is quickly approaching 1,000 endorsers. I want to invite everyone to the BBQ at Whitethorn Winery on May 5th. I promise you’re going to have a great time.
April 24, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Ernie's Place
So far I’m very proud of our local candidates, they have taken the high road and stuck to the issues. With a few remarkable exceptions, the commentors that sign there names have also been fair. Good on us!
April 24, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Eric Kirk
Jim, if you’ve got a digital poster send it to me and I’ll post it.
Mike Losey is at the top of Clif’s endorsement list, right along Congressman Mike Thompson and Wes Chesbro. His support for Clif is no secret.
And I do have to say that Estelle’s inroads into the Fortuna business community are impressive. But I’m learning through my involvement in the campaign that Clif’s roots in Fortuna run deep and wide, figuratively and literally. And there are people down here who won’t support him publicly because of the dynamics, but will quietly walk into the booth and vote for him on June 5, because he does spend a lot of time down here and he does represent their values and politics on the issues which matter for the position. I’ll be curious to see what kind of numbers they represent. I have no idea at the moment.
There. So goes my campaign pitch to the three people reading this who have not made up their minds.
April 24, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Jane
The issue with Estelle isn’t whether she can talk a good game. She was a news commentator of course she is articulate. And she isn’t stupid either. For me, and I’ve worked with the woman, the question isn’t what she knows it is how she will use the power of public office for her own agenda and means. She is the female Romney candidate as far as I am concerned or maybe the Linda Blair of the political world. Few scruples once the public eye isn’t looking.
April 25, 2012 at 8:00 am
Anonymous
Jim, who do you think did better at the Mateel forum? Your answer will give me a clue as to how big a grain of salt I will need from your opinion of the Monday Club debate.
ernie, you appear to be a really superficial person. You also talk a good game, but it is amazing to me you still support estelle after some pretty big errors in answer at the MCC. I thought you were deeper. My bad.
April 25, 2012 at 9:21 am
Ernie's Place
Anonymous 8:00am
First, I’m deep enough to find it humorous that someone that calls themselves “anonymous” would be calling me “superficial”. Second, I want to thank you for asking me why I support Estelle.
Not only do I talk a good game, I play a good game. I like people, and I like helping them. I am a Rotarian. The Rotary Club is curing polio in the world, we send and receive foreign exchange students all over the world, we give scholarships to deserving students. Just yesterday we gave the local 7th and 8th grade soccer team $500.00 to help them go to Holland to play soccer with other young players from all over the world. I can’t even began to list all the good that Rotary does in the world.
I am a volunteer fireman and medical first responder. If you get hit by a truck in Redway, we will be the ones trying to save you. The first time that I met Estelle was when she was covering one of the major forest fires that we have had around here. As firefighters, we are used to reporters getting in the way and trying to “get the story”. I was struck by the difference in Estelle’s questions for us. She would ask where the fire was headed, who needed to be warned or evacuated, and if there was anything that the public needed to know. She would also say that her news service was at our complete disposal for emergency messages.
During the Canoe fire in Weott, I was stationed at the Eel River Con camp for Helicopter Landing Zone Safety. The fire command center was also based there. We found more about the fire and where it was heading from Estelle’s KMUD broadcasts than from our own information. Most everybody that lived back in where the Canoe fire was located, knew Estelle and called her with updates. Being familiar with our area, and being in close two-way communication with the residents, the CDF took her up in a helicopter to line out what was happening. The CDF is a very competent group, but they depend heavily on local information. Estelle had that kind of information for them.
CDF had worked with Estelle many times, but after the Canoe fire she was given several CDF citations for her outstanding performance. The Garberville Redway Chamber of Commerce elected her as Citizen of the Year. Much deserved in my opinion.
Many years ago, Estelle went to Covelo to report on the Bear Lincoln ( a native American) killing of a Mendocino deputy Sheriff. It was a very dangerous assignment for her, but she didn’t back away, and she covered the story. Talk about courage under fire. There was a manhunt and much gunfire in the valley. The thing that struck me the most is that she covered the Indian part of the story with caring and lack of prejudice. I found her fairness to the Indians people to be remarkable, and up until that point I had seldom seen the Indian people treated fairly.
Too shorten this story; of course people that that are caring of other folks, and trying do something for them would cross paths a lot. So, Estelle and I cross paths a lot. She is also a Rotarian, and serves on many local boards.
In full disclosure, the Garberville Rotary Club will not be endorsing Estelle or anyone else, but many Rotarians familiar with her service will be voting for her, including myself. Doug Green was also a former Garberville Rotarian. Incase “anonymous” had anything to say about that.
April 25, 2012 at 11:27 am
Anonymous
As firefighters, we are used to reporters getting in the way and trying to “get the story”
ernie, who would these other reporters be? Way back when there were no other reporters. estelle made sure of that.
April 25, 2012 at 11:37 am
Ernie's Place
Anon
CNN, KIEM, Redwood Times, Times-Standard, Independent .
Why don’t you just say something nice about Clif? Your ploy is obvious.
Last comment.
April 25, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Anonymous
estelle learned a lot about journalism and the questions to ask from cristina bause and scoop miller.
April 25, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Mike Losey, Fortuna
Jane, you are entirely correct. Clif can be trusted to make decisions that he believes to be the best for Humboldt County, even to his deteriment, I know this for a fact. He and I might not always agree, but I respect him for not giving an answer, just because he thinks that’s the answer you want to hear. He is not the candidate who will roll over and he is not in anyone’s back pocket.
April 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Eric Kirk
Certainly giving up Rio Dell and Palmer Ave. to the First District so that Sohum could remain intact qualifies as such a decision. It’s not helping him this election, and won’t help him in the next.
April 25, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Bunny
estelle learned a lot about journalism and the questions to ask from cristina bause and scoop miller.
I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure both those gals came after Estelle. I think Estelle was the beginning of KMUD’s news show. Redwood Summer.
April 25, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Anonymous
you are right bunny, but estelle really changed her way after scoop and cristina. i totally admired them both, it was a sad day when those girls left. you are wrong however, that estelle was the beginning of the kmud news. for my life though, i can’t remember the name of the gal that was before her.
eric, are you sure rio dell is no longer in the second district? i thought it was.
April 25, 2012 at 4:20 pm
anon
there were other news directors before estelle: susan dembitz, mary anderson, sherry champaign…(no, we will NOT have any man doing that job–goddess has spoken)
April 25, 2012 at 4:42 pm
gpf
On Monday, when Clif had the mike, a couple of times he gave it to Estelle and let her finish out his alotted three minutes, apparently to his detriment. A) Clif was being a gentleman, B) Clif using advanced political strategy, or C) Clif COULDN’T THINK of anything more to say
April 25, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Mike Losey, Fortuna
Jim, the informal survey you talk about might have been the people you were sitting around, several of whom were your gal’s supporters. I stand by my comments that Clif had the more complete answers and stayed on track giving him the advantage. I do know that early on in the campaign, there was a push for businesses to not support Clif, but as the campaign has continued, for a variety of reasons, there is a pushback from some of those initial positions. It’s not surprising given Clif is a small business owner and his entire family is highly thought of throughout Fortuna and the Eel River Valley. He does have support in the Southern Humboldt area as well. His position on some issues has ruffled some feathers, no doubt about it, sometimes even mine, but he is trustworthy and I can believe what he says. He is always willing to look at both sides of an issue. You can find his upcoming events at http://www.clifclendenen4supervisor.
April 25, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Eric Kirk
eric, are you sure rio dell is no longer in the second district? i thought it was.
Sorry. I meant so say Scotia.
April 26, 2012 at 5:47 am
Jim Ferguson
Mike:
It was outside on the street actually, but no matter.
Here is a list of some of the up coming debates:
May 2 – KEET; May 4 – Shelter Cove; May 7 – CLMP.
Please watch, listen or attend if you can and ask the tough questions, we welcome them.
April 26, 2012 at 8:07 am
Anonymous
Out on the street, at the table, what matters is who did you survey Jim?
I must say with a big leap of faith, because Jim, you are the guy that said Shelter Cove was never in the first district, and you were wrong. estelle is the guy that got it wrong on the 101 corridor funding wrong, she got it wrong when she said the county was going to kick us off our land, she didn’t even know about the Eureka Waterfront Drive issue. I don’t know CLif, I do know estelle. From what I have seen, I trust Clif. I don’t trust estelle. If birds of a feather stick together is true, then one must trust Mike Losey, whom I also don’t know.
April 28, 2012 at 1:44 am
Charles Douglas
Although it’s already played twice on Channel 12, this is the first link I’m posting on the Internet, since Eric’s blog is, after all, the crossroads of SoHum. Please enjoy a full-hour of my chats with both Clendenen and Fennell; hopefully we touched on some issues as yet unexplored in the debates.
I’ll try and post the embedded version of this, but if it doesn’t work, Eric is welcome to figure it out on his end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz1YGswjg0Q
April 28, 2012 at 1:46 am
Charles Douglas
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz1YGswjg0Q&w=560&h=315%5D
April 28, 2012 at 1:47 am
Charles Douglas
Drats, can’t get that working using either the new or old versions of embed code. Feel free to delete this comment and the last Eric, hopefully you can sort this out…
April 28, 2012 at 9:45 am
Anonymous
We watched the first half which is Clif. Noticed on the public restroom for the Garberville his answer. He is is favor of a permanent, strong structure.
Our gist of the rest of what he said is that there are a couple of different factions i.e. the Chamber of Commerce/different folks and the homeless/different folks. The county is not going to come in with an “edict” about any facility “until the community comes to an agreement”. The county is not going to “take a side”. Clif is a uniter, not a divider, unlike estelle who will take a side that is for her benefit.
Back to the public restroom. Once we, as a community, come up with a united decision on a facility, the county will help us and work with us to find funding, and anything else necessary.
Now we are watching estelle. We had to take a break because we got tired of hearing her repeating words. Back to finish the video.
April 28, 2012 at 9:58 am
Anonymous
We hate to be catty, but estelle looks like an old man.
She called the urgency ordinance the emergency ordinance and said the issue was not an “emergency”, she brought out the emergency’s she has covered. Then, just like during the KMUD event, her cell phone went off.
It was called the urgency ordinance.
April 28, 2012 at 10:01 am
Anonymous
Oh ya, and in this video, instead of picking on the amount of public meetings during the GPU, she is trying to downplay the number of meetings, and is now picking on “the quality of those meetings”.