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He earned his MBA at Stanford, made multi-millions as a high-tech entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and spent 12 months as a volunteer teacher at a struggling high school in San Jose.

In 2006, Steve Poizner was elected California insurance commissioner, a job he describes as "an extremely important obscure post."

Now the 52-year-old Republican wants to be governor of California.

Poizner arrived in Bakersfield Thursday, one day after gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom made a campaign stop here -- and one day before Poizner is scheduled to speak at the California Republican Assembly convention here.

Poizner talked to editors and reporters at The Californian Thursday about his gubernatorial campaign, his opposition to the May 19 ballot measures and his vision for the state, which he says is "out of cash" and in need of vibrant, innovative ideas.

Click here for interview details.

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Sat down for a chat today with SF Mayor and democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom. He struck me as an engaging and informed communicator, almost Obama-esque.

With his fit good looks and trans-partisan approach, the 41-year-old may be capable of locking in a big chunk of the youth vote and winning over a number of moderates. But will religious conservatives ever forgive him for his decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004?

When Ferdinand and Yolanda Aggenbach emigrated from South Africa to Bakersfield nearly five years ago, they were astounded by how courteous local drivers are.

The only problem was everyone was driving on the wrong side of the road.

"Life here is so much easier," said Ferdinand. "You guys don't really know what you have here."

On Friday, the Aggenbachs joined 23 other immigrants in raising their right hands and swearing an oath of allegiance to become citizens of the United States of America.

Here's the story: http://www.bakersfield.com/...

Whadda ya think?

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A U.S. Marine from eastern Kern County has lost his life in a non-combat incident in Iraq, just two weeks after his deployment.

Lance Cpl. Ray A. Spencer II, 20, of Ridgecrest, died April 16 in Anbar province, according to a release from the Department of Defense.

The incident is under investigation, and few other details of Spencer's death have been released by the military, not even to his young widow, Athena Spencer.

"They've told us probably as much as they've told you," Mrs. Spencer said Tuesday from her family's home in Anaheim. "It was on base, so it wasn't combat."

Mrs. Spencer was told by a friend that her husband died from a gunshot wound, but that information has not been confirmed by military authorities.

I hope she is receiving the benefits she is due from the military: burial expenses, counseling and access to someone who can walk her through all the confusing procedures and paperwork.

Got a call this morning from a Kern man whose son was killed by a gunshot wound in his barracks. He said negotiating the maze of military bureaucracy and information roadblocks was a nightmare.

I wish Mrs. Spencer all possible peace and happiness.

Click here for full story.

We thought this blog post should go on the Politics Anyone? blog.

If you want to see me grovel, just click below:

people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/politicsanyone

"Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down." — Stephen Stills

These modern-day protesters look nothing like those in the 1960s and 70s who demonstrated against the Vietnam War and in favor of civil rights.

But both groups share something in common: the urge to make their voices heard in constitutionally sanctioned public dissent.

The first of three planned Tax Day demonstrations got underway at noon today in front of City Hall in downtown Bakersfield, according to a news story on Bakersfield.com.

Organized by the American Family Association, the "Tea Party" event drew an estimated 150 to 200 people protesting government overspending, taxes and what they view as government's shift to the left.

"Let's fire the 545 and start over," read a placard held over the head of protester Jess Ring.

If Americans voted out the entire Congress, Ring said, "maybe they would get the message that uncontrolled spending is not in our interest."

Josiah Vencel, one of the protest organizers, cited Alaska's so-called "bridge to nowhere" and other congressional "pork" as symptoms of a government whose spending has gotten out of control.

"My children and grandchildren will pay for the sins of today," he said.

When asked, demonstrators acknowledged that they didn't actively protest during the Bush administration, when the nation produced record deficits under a Republican-controlled Congress.

"This is the first time I've been annoyed enough by my government to take it to the street," said retired Bakersfield resident Richard Young. "No one asked me."

He said there were problems during the past eight years as well.

A second tax protest will be held at 4:30 p.m. at Chester and Truxtun avenues.

And a third demonstration is planned by gay couples and supporters who are expected to protest inequalities they say they face in federal tax law. That event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the post office annex on Pegasus Road.

Over the span of his 76 years, Laverne Mulder rarely spoke about his combat experiences during the Korean War.

He was reluctant to be referred to as a hero after assisting a wounded comrade in the heat of battle.

And he almost never talked about the day in 1952 when he lost his leg to a land mine and suffered internal injuries that would leave him hospitalized for 18 months.

Mulder was not present Monday when he and three other local men were awarded a wide array of military medals for the service they rendered during America's wars of the mid-20th century.

For the full story, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/cd3ztq

When the bottom drops out at powerful insurance companies and Wall Street banks, they sometimes look to the federal government for bailouts.

But when local developers can’t fulfill their agreements, should local government come to the rescue?

The answer is a reluctant “yes” — if the Bakersfield City Council is any indication.

The council voted 6-0 Wednesday evening to assume responsibility for finishing millions of dollars worth of roads, amenities and parks in the stalled City in the Hills development in northeast Bakersfield.

No one on the council sounded happy about the city taking on a role it was never meant to assume, but most agreed they had little choice. Continued chaos and litigation would ensue otherwise, warned City Manager Alan Tandy.

Councilman Ken Weir, whose ward includes the troubled development, led the charge for passage. Yet even he acknowledged he was “not jumping for joy” over the prospect.

Councilmembers Harold Hanson and Sue Benham, however, voiced serious concerns that taxpayers outside the development might be impacted. And Benham wondered how the city ended up in such a weak position in the first place.

Hanson suggested they wait 30 days to allow councilmembers more time to get up to speed on the complicated details. “Not that I don’t have faith in you guys,” Hanson told city staff without a hint of irony.

Some of those who moved to City in the Hills based on promises made by developers now feel cheated, plain and simple.

“They sold me on this promise that it would be developed a certain way,” said homeowner Freddy Hernandez, who attended Wednesday’s meeting.

Several residents of the ranchette-style homes that existed north of the development long before it was a development, said the council’s decision was bittersweet.

City in the Hills should never have been approved by the city of Bakersfield, said ranchette owner Henry Gallego.

“The disaster this city fell for, Gallego said, “is City in the Hills.”

Click here for the full story.