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About politicsanyone
If you're new to Bakersfield, you may have no idea how bizarre our politics are.
If you've been here a while, you've probably sensed that they're way different from any other place in California - maybe even the country.
Your first clue should have been the defiant "Alamo/Tombstone" message and the fake missile that until recently adorned the top of the old Padre Hotel downtown. It was the legacy of a fierce battle during the 1960s and 1970s between the city council and the hotel's former owner, Milton "Spartacus" Miller, one of the stubbornest men that ever lived.
Bakersfield is still the political equiavalent of the Wild West.
In local partisan politics, this is a time of transition away from more than two decades in which just-retired GOP Congressman Bill Thomas called most of the shots.
We now basically have four major political parties, instead of two.
There's the dominant local Republican Party establishment, founded by Thomas and now led by Congressman Kevin McCarthy and political consultant Mark Abernathy. Then there's the smaller conservative wing, headed by State Sen. Roy Ashburn. It is constantly battling attempts by the GOP insiders to freeze it out of power and influence.
The local Democratic Party is a battleground between two families: Florez and Parra.
It's our version of the Hatfields and McCoys, without the guns.
State Sen. Dean Florez harbors a long-running feud with Assemblywoman Nicole Parra and her dad, Pete.
Nonpartisan city and county politics are no different.
The agribusiness and oil interests that once governed Kern County with an easy-going, laissez faire outlook have faded in influence. Rising in their place is a rapidly growing urban population increasingly concerned about the quality of life here-air and water pollution and other health issues, what's happening in schools, urban sprawl, drug use, gang violence.
Politics has a bad smell to many people. Not that it doesn't deserve some of it, but politics is still the glue that holds society together while people who disagree with each other work out solutions to the problems we all face.
This blog will be devoted to bringing you the inside stories as those issues work themselves out in local, state and federal politics in the coming election year and beyond, with contributions from all Californian reporters.
We welcome your comments, but please respect the opinions of others. And if you want respect for your opinions, please have the courage to sign your real name.
User Name:politicsanyone
Member Since:May 03, 2007
Last Signed In:November 22, 2009
Profile Views:1849
Blog Views:100881
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politicsanyone's Recent Blog Posts
There's still no official announcement from Republican incumbent Danny Gilmore that he's not running for his 30th...
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The Associated Press has a feature on the upcoming retirement of Kern's DA, Ed Jagels.
We covered it in...
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Politico has an in-depth look at Cardoza's (and Costa's, though he's not mentioned) deal for the possible UC Merced...
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politicsanyone's Recent Comments
OK, contest is over. Hardliner wins.
And Panfilo, don't think we don't know that was you.
Vic
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I have now been called a rightwinger and, by inference, a leftwinger. This calls for a response of world-class...
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Recent Comments On politicsanyone's Blog
I like Republicans to run, but AFTER their messes have been cleaned up by a Democrat. Look around, we are...
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Virgil, go away. She's a good person, regardless of political affiliation.
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some people still think she is a Democrat.
--virgil
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politicsanyone's Guestbook
Comment From: Ritchiesrovers
Tue Mar 24, 2009 00:00:42 PDT
Hi Im inviting people to come walk with me on April 4th at 9am at Riverwalk Park to help cure cystic fibrosis and to have a good time. Thanks for the political briefing.
Comment From: JosephWhitby
Mon Jan 19, 2009 13:13:39 PST
I won't have my TV on tomorrow. I, and my wife, will be out shopping, going to the movies and having dinner out. An attempt to get over our sorrow.
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