Send DeSaulnier Home, Canciamilla to Sacramento

The time is upon us to send Contra Costa Supervisor, Mark DeSaulnier home. And to send Laura Canciamilla to Sacramento.

Tomorrow, one of the most important elections for the residents of Contra Costa County will be held when voters are asked to chose the Democratic candidate for State Assembly. The race, between DeSaulnier and Canciamilla is neck and neck and many pollster feel it is too close to call.

This is a great sign for Canciamilla. With three other men in the race, the Pittsburg School Board Trustee should come out on top. Let’s take a step down memory lane with DeSaulnier.

Appropriately, Sir Mark as those who work for him reference the boss, began his political career in Concord, California, that city that sports the same moniker as the historic town which boasts the famous ride of Paul Revere, Concord, Massachusetts. It seems that the latter and more famous Concord was just a short 21 miles from Lowell and that the young Markster always had his eyes set on being Mayor of Concord. Some Concord. Any Concord.

For those unfamiliar with his steps to the Contra Costa County Supe's seat, Sir Mark served as Mayor of Concord in the mid 1990’s. As a restaurant and bar owner in that community, Mark is pretty well known and a popular guy. It is only natural then, that DeSaulnier didn’t look towards the Kennedy’s when he began his career. He stepped out of the political closet as a Republican, then changed his mind and became a Democrat.

As we scrutinize the record that lies atop DeSaulnier's list of achievement, ( we didn't mean to say lie here. Markster hates that word), we will see that DeSaulnier flutters like the wind. One moment he is good friends with Tom Koch, the building baron PR Guy who contributed so much to DeSaulnier's various campaigns he decided to break off the relationship and begin endorsing someone with a higher degree of intellect.

Then there was the Tony Colon incident where DeSaulnier turned his head on the fact that Colon, then Executive Director of Social Services for the county, had knowledge of his employees stuffing small children into dumpsters and closets as punishment at the county's Head Start facilities in Antioch and Richmond.

Then there was the French Fry fiasco where DeSaulnier wanted to ban fast food restaurants from expanding in the county because of the food they served. Then it was reported that his restaurant, TR's, served the same French Fries as other fooderies.

Let's not forget the airport in Concord that DeSaulnier disliked so much that he wanted to close it and build more houses, apartments and retail to add more traffic to the already bottlenecked roads in and out of the county.

Yes, DeSaulnier is a man for some people. Especially if you have your name on his campaign war chest as a contributor. It sems that his trek to Sacramento began long ago and that he cares not who he steps on to get their.

If the voters of Contra Costa County want true and professional representation in Sacramento, they will send DeSaulnier home and Laura Canciamilla to Sacrament. And, they will do it on Tuesday with a mandate that DeSaulnier's style of pay to play politics is one step closer to getting buried in the county.

Send DeSaulnier Home

The time is upon us to send Contra Costa Supervisor, Mark DeSaulnier home. And to send Laura Canciamilla to Sacramento.

Tomorrow, one of the most important elections for the residents of Contra Costa County will be held when voters are asked to chose the Democratic candidate for State Assembly. The race, between DeSaulnier and Canciamilla is neck and neck and many pollster feel it is too close to call.

This is a great sign for Canciamilla. With three other men in the race, the Pittsburg School Board Trustee should come out on top. LEt's take a step down memory lane with DeSaulnier.

Appropriately, Sir Mark as those who work for him reference the boss, began his political career in Concord, California, that city that sports the same moniker as the historic town which boasts the famous ride of Paul Revere, Concord, Massachusetts. It seems that the latter and more famous Concord was just a short 21 miles from Lowell and that the young Markster always had his eyes set on being Mayor of Concord. Some Concord. Any Concord.

For those unfamiliar with his steps to the Contra Costa County Supe's seat, Sir Mark served as Mayor of Concord in the mid 1990’s. As a restaurant and bar owner in that community, Mark is pretty well known and a popular guy. It is only natural then, that DeSaulnier didn’t look towards the Kennedy’s when he began his career. He stepped out of the political closet as a Republican, then changed his mind and became a Democrat.

As we scrutinize the record that lies atop DeSaulnier's list of achievement, ( we didn't mean to say lie here. Markster hates that word), we will see that DeSaulnier flutters like the wind. One moment he is good friends with Tom Kock, the building baron PR Guy who contributed so much to DeSaulnier's various campaigns he decided to break off the relationship and begin endorsing someone with a higher degree of intellect.

Then there was the Tony Colon incident where DeSaulnier turned his head on the fact that Colon, then Executive Director of Social Services for the county, had knowledge of his employees stuffing small children into dumpsters and closets as punishment at the county's Head Start facilities in Antioch and Richmond.

Then there was the French Fry fiasco where DeSaulnier wanted to ban fast food restaurants from expanding in the county because of the food they served. Then it was reported that his restaurant, TR's, served the same french fries as other fooderies.

Let's not forget the airport in Concord that DeSaulnier disliked so much that he wanted to close it and build more houses, apartments and retail to add more traffic to the already bottlenecked roads in and out of the county.

Yes, DeSaulnier is a man for some people. Especially if you have your name on his campaign warchest as a contributor. It sems that his trek to Sacramento began long ago and that he cares not who he steps on to get their.

If the voters of Contra Costa County want true and professional representation in Sacramento, they will send DeSaulnier home and Laura Canciamilla to Sacrament. And, they will do it on Tuesday with a mandate that DeSaulnier's style of pay to play politicas is one step closer to getting buried in the county.

Send Mark DeSaulnier Home, Canciamilla to Sacramento

The time is upon us to think about who would best represent us in Sacramento. Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, or Pittsburgh School Board trustee Laura Canciamilla? The choice resembes the highly popular TV show, Deal or No Deal? And, that is the question that the voters must ask themselves when they walk into that voting booth. Unfortunately, if the voters take the Deal- they lose- and DeSaulnier wins the case with the mega bucks.

For those who don't pay much attention to the restaurant owner turned politician- he is a deal maker. And, if you make the right deal with Mark, and contribute enough to his quest for glory, he votes your way. And, his record speaks for this.
Let's take a look.



I had a discussion with a friend of mine in Walnut Creek last week and he told me that I should see Brokeback Mountain. I told him I hadn't heard of the movie but that I would see it. Admittedly, I was taken aback by the plot. I was sure, before I went into the theater, that the title had to do with the current financial situation in the county which sits in the shadow of Mt. Diablo. If that ain't a broke back mountain what is?

To my surprise, the movie, as everyone now knows, has to do with a love affair between two married cowboys. Actually, sheepherders. But the deeper plot analyzes the feelings they held for each other and how they would do anything for one another, ignoring the ramifications of those who love and support them.

Well, you don't have to go to Brokeback Mountain to see two guys who are friends watching out for each other's backs.

Take State Senator Tom Torlakson and Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier. The fix is in for these two as they are using term limits, Assembly and Senate seats as their personal hop-scotch board diagram too rise up the political ladder. It's almost as though the public has little to say about who gets elected.

According to reliable sources, DeSaulnier almost jumped in front of truck last week after he read Lisa Vorderbrueggen's column in the Contra Costa Times exposing the game plan of these two friends.

It seems that Desaulnier's buddy, da Senator, is looking to keep his hat in the political ring after he terms out of his Senate seat in 2008. Rumor has it that Torlakson will do a bait and switch with DeSaulnier. If DeSaulnier, who is currently running for the Assembly, gets elected to the two-year post, he will not run for another Assembly term in 2008, opening the way for Da Senator to run. DeSaulnier, will then run for Torlakson's Senate seat where his childhood dreams have always focused anyway.

Torlakson will then double hop-scotch over to the state superintendent of public instruction in 2010.

This plan is not without obstacle. It may be more like a hop-scotch game combined with high-hurdles. One of the most perplexing parts of the scheme is the behind-the-scene sources close to both pols are questioning. It seems that a rift is in the making, similar to the one that cost DeSaulnier his friendship with Tom Koch.

If DeSaulnier captures his Senate seat in 2008, he has his eye on the Gov's office and has supposedly already told Torlakson that he could only run for Liuetenant Governor. Da' Senator don't like that. He too has his eye on the Gov's desk and it wasn't a view from the public's side. So although the deal looks good on paper, once emotions run high, as steps towards the ultimate prize quicken, the deal could go sour. (That happens frequently with Mr. Pickles.)

That is often the case when you make an under-the-table deal involving climbing ladders, or mountains together, when there is only room for one at the top.

And, as we all know, everyone likes to be on top. Especially in politics.

That is becoming more apparent as Da Senator begins raising funds for his Assembly campaign in 2008. Nothing like starting the race a bit before the gate opens. DeSaulnier's people claim he has been pouting since his buddy might be cutting into his contribution base by beginning his fundraising so early. But, that's politics today. It really doesn't matter what the people want, as long as the pols can use them to get ahead. Or to the top of the ladder, or the mountain.

Another crucial point that voters should consider is that both DeSaulnier, and da Senator have done little, if anything for Contra Costa County. Torlakson has sold out in Sacramento on more than one occassion, especially when it comes to sucking gas with the refineries in mind.

The Supe, who has been driving the bus at the Supervisor's meetings for the past five years, and setting direction for his constituents, has proven to be such a fiduciary disaster, that both the County Administrator John Sweeten and the Assistant County Administrator Scott Tandy have jumped off the bus before it crashes.

On top of all this, Torlakson, fully aware of his incompetance when it comes to delivering for the voters, had to make a deal years in advance for DeSaulnier to clear the way so that da Senator can stay in the political limelight. Is he that concerned that his reputation and persona would fade from the public's eye on such a short time? What a plot.

What tangled webs we weave. Especially when we are up on Broken Back Mountain. The only difference, the two guys in the movie did it to each other.

Torlakson and DeSaulnier prefer doing it to us, the voting public. Now there's a movie. Unfortunately we're all paying a big price for admission.