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Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Loose Lips: Farewells to Tatum, Wooten

Next month will be rough. Lips will lose two of its favorite foils -- Mayor Ellie Wooten and CEO Dee Tatum. The sand in the hourglass has run out. Both leaders' farewell parties are upon us. Both are bowing out in their own distinctive ways.

Wooten's roast was held Thursday night at the Italo American Lodge Hall. The shindig doubled as a fundraiser for the Merced County Rescue Mission, so organizers threw a wide net to pack the hall. Some 170 people were expected.

There's a list of people set to roast Wooten, who'll probably lob a few jokes back in their direction.

We'll have a detailed report next week, though master of ceremonies Sheriff Mark Pazin gave us a sneak peak of one of his Wooten anecdotes.

He said he was in Sacramento during Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's last visit to Merced. That explains why he wasn't among the people standing behind Arnie as the cameras flashed. (Pazin hasn't yet found a press conference he doesn't like.)

While in Sac, Pazin learned from one of the guv's minders that Wooten said to Arnold, "Come here, kid," which is one of her go-to phrases.

Schwarzenegger, apparently irked he was being called a 62-year-old child, especially by a fellow Republican, replied that he's known as "the governor" in public.

Tonight, county leaders will gather to bid sayonara to Tatum in an invite-only affair that includes county elected officials, department heads and Tatum's friends. It seems only fitting a county goodbye party would be hush-hush. Maybe it's to keep disgruntled county workers from throwing shoes.

Word spread this week that former supersocial Supervisor Kathleen Crookham was offended that her invite seemed to have been lost in the mail. She downplayed it when Lips caught up with her. "I'm not miffed," she said. "It doesn't get you anywhere."

Actually, it does.

Chairwoman Deidre Kelsey told Lips she personally called Crookham to extend a welcome after learning of the former supe's displeasure. She hasn't heard back.

Personal matters, it turns out, will keep Crookham from attending both parties. She said she wrote Wooten apologizing for missing hers.

There's more invitation confusion. Pazin was unaware of the event until contacted by Lips. Kelsey said she never bothers to check her e-mail. District Attorney Larry Morse II wondered whether he knew how to deal with this new-fangled commo.

Morse can't make Tatum's party because he'll be busy meeting with the chief justice of the California Supreme Court. "The chief justice trumps the Big Dog," Morse said, noting he extended a dinner invitation in lieu of his absence.

No invitations were sent to the three former supervisors or any of the past department heads, Kelsey said, because they aren't directly involved in county business anymore. Tatum also asked that the party not be too formal. About 100 people will attend.

Kelsey pointed out there will be a public sendoff next month. It'll be agendized, so everyone -- including Crookham -- is invited to attend. Just don't expect any foie gras. Or any disclosures except on a need-to-know basis through spokeswoman Katie Albertson.

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