Loose Lips: Candidates step up, clear things up

Lips needs to set a few jokes straight after last week's column.

First, Bill Blake corrected us. His council campaign Web site address is "Vote Bill Blake dot home dot Comcast dot net" or http://votebillblake.home.comcast.net.

He conceded it was still long, but still didn't take us up on the offer to spot him the $20 to register www.billblakeforcouncil.com.

Also, Bill Spriggs is still running for Merced mayor, despite his damaged knee that's slowed him to a hobble. The joke confused at least one voter, who -- so distraught? -- didn't read the rest of Lips. Instead, she called Spriggs and asked who she should vote for if he wasn't going to be on the ballot.

Finally, Michele Gabriault-Acosta called and said her ugly signs -- her words, not ours -- were actually the city's new traffic-calming measure. So we figure that means if she's elected mayor, we'll be driving by them in perpetuity. Speed bumps suddenly sound appealing.

Cooking conundrum

Moving on, council candidate Mary-Michal Rawling snagged an endorsement by Merced County Chairwoman Deidre Kelsey.

Even though the supervisor isn't a Merced resident, she said she finds herself in contact with city leaders and wants to make sure they share a good long-range vision.

Kelsey says it's time "to invite fresh air at the table." Lips translation: Current leaders stink.

If she's not elected, maybe someone will open a window and give Kelsey a fan.

Rawling's giving away hot dogs, chips and drinks from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Rose Garden Gazebo in Applegate Park.

No word on how the hot dogs will be cooked. We can't imagine Rawling, an air advocate, firing up a pile of briquets to charbroil them. After all, that'd release quite a few particles into the air. Then again, a pot of boiled hot dogs could cost her some votes.

Maybe she can commission an environmental impact report that would suggest some mitigations.

Pass the ketchup

Speaking of hot dogs, state Sen. Jeff Denham capped a legislative session with the gov signing one of his top bills, SB 809.

It's a pork bill, believe it or not.

Called the "Hot Dog Man Bill," it updates an 1872 law that exempted veterans from paying taxes.

Bill "The Hot Dog Man" Connell was held liable for past taxes tied to his business of selling frankfurters from his cart in Carpinteria. Denham took up his fight. State law now lets disabled vets hock wares on the street free from sales tax. Well, except for booze and anything selling for more than $100. Then the government's more than willing to take its share.

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

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