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Friday, Sep. 25, 2009

Loose Lips: Some 'bold' moves from the chamber

Stop the presses!

The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, which bills itself as "the Chamber," issued its endorsements for November's City Council contest.

Drum roll, please.

The chamber -- in a bold and adventurous move -- decided not to endorse anyone for mayor.

What!?!?

Turns out, it'd be hunky-dory with any of the three candidates -- Bill Spriggs, Michele Gabriault-Acosta and Rick Osorio. They all have some council experience, the chamber reported, so the learning curve for ribbon-cuttings is low.

Continuing with the bold streak, it decided to back Bill Blake, the Merced County undersheriff, Josh Pedrozo, son of Supe John Pedrozo and a high school teacher, and Richard Cervantes, a planning commissioner and a welder. The association's Government Review Committee interviewed all the candidates, except for Carl Pollard who couldn't make it and wasn't considered. Bummer, seeing that he's the only council candidate with council experience.

That left Mary-Michal Rawling, with the Merced County Asthma Coalition, as the only other option. We guess she's not chamber material, which may be a compliment.

Coincidentally, the chamber's picks are the only candidates who have bought signs. Like chicken pox, those glossy advertisements have been popping up across town.

Cervantes went for the big and few approach. His megasigns are hard to miss, but there are only a handful around town.

Spriggs, Pedrozo and Blake, on the other hand, have the smaller ones speckled at various intersections and front yards.

Rawling, meanwhile, has a request for donations posted on her Facebook page by Melissa Kelly-Ortega, who says $10,000 is needed to help Rawling buy signs and direct mailers.

Not a taxing race

Before Sen. Jeff Denham can ascend to the illustrious office of lieutenant governor, he'll have to beat his Republican challenger.

State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, officially declared his candidacy Wednesday.

In the press release, he followed his name with this: "(Honest-Ed)." Lips thought it was a folksy nickname. Then we realized it was a guide to pronouncing Aanestad. That'd make our local guy Den Um. Not so folksy.

The press release explained -- in bold and underlined text -- Honest-Ed "is known as a fiscal conservative who has never once voted for a tax increase and has consistently resisted attempts to increase the size of the state bureaucracy."

Sounds like someone's challenging Jeff on his elephant cred.

Fortunately, Denham has one endorsement listed on his campaign Web site that should boost his chances. Republican Assemblyman and storyteller Mike Duvall stands behind Denham. Er, make that former Assemblyman Mike Duvall.

Loose Lips can be reached at editor@mercedsun-star.com.