Here's our list of biggest, best, most and least
By The Bakersfield Californian
Hits & Misses is taking an unpaid furlough day today so that we may bring you some of the stuff -- none of it particularly consequential -- that we never got around to reporting from our editorial board meetings with the candidates and assorted other campaign events. Call it our Election Leftover Awards.
MOST bizarre moment: John Hernandez and John Hernandez (tie). First, pointing his finger at Publisher Ginger Moorhouse, seated directly across the table from him, the 21st Congressional District candidate demanded to know "Who is she ?" Then, pouncing on CEO Richard Beene, who 20 minutes later attempted to ask a question, Hernandez interjected "Hold it! You can't interrupt me!" He said he had assumed Beene was a campaign aide of his opponent, David Valadao.
BEST effort to stifle a laugh: Valadao.
LEAST egregious campaign violation: 1st District supervisor candidate Mick Gleason and Rep. Kevin McCarthy, busted for electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place. Elections chief Karen Rhea came out of her office and ordered Gleason to move his news conference farther away from the Kern County Elections Division office because its proximity was a violation of state law -- a misdemeanor, in fact. No arrests were made.
SILLIEST mutual finger-pointing: Gleason and opponent Roy Ashburn, after promising not to make personal attacks on the other, arguing about which one of them was likeliest to make the first personal attack.
BEST comeback: Kevin McCarthy, reminded that the Department of Defense, which no longer has much use for "horses and bayonets," had proposed a budget smaller than those of previous years: "The ocean hasn't gotten any smaller."
MOST glaring inconsistency: McCarthy, on why voters should choose him over political neophyte Terry Phillips in the 23rd Congressional District race: "Experience matters." McCarthy, again, on why voters should reject longtime state legislator Roy Ashburn and instead choose political neophyte Mick Gleason in the race for 1st District supervisor: It's about "new leadership, new ideas."
BEST "yeah, but he's our illegal" moment: Anti-amnesty Assemblywoman Shannon Grove on Republican Assembly candidate Pedro Rios, who came over the border illegally as a 9-year-old, gained resident alien status under President Reagan's amnesty program in 1986, and became a citizen in 1996: "Pedro has walked steps in his lifetime none of us have walked."
MOST intriguing newcomer, local division: Leticia Perez, soon to become the new 5th District supervisor.
MOST intriguing newcomer, state division: Molly Munger, wealthy civil rights attorney and lead proponent of Proposition 38.
MOST emphatic denial: Munger, when asked if she intends to parlay her new high-profile status into elective office: "No." Then, moving closer to the questioner's face: "No." Then, moving within two inches of the questioner's nose, eyes locked on eyes: "NO."
BEST dressed: John Hernandez, in a sharp olive suit and dark green tie.
BIGGEST show of force: The Yes-on-Prop. 33 team of six (count 'em, six) spokespeople, each of whom wanted to talk. (We endorsed the "no" side, which brought in just three people.)
MOST overused cliche of the campaign season: "Everything's on the table."
Facebook
Twitter
Mobile
RSS
Most CommentedMost Popular
Two cellphones confiscated last week from witnesses to the in-custody death of David Sal Silva were returned Wednesday to the attorney representing the witnesses.
About two dozen protesters stood in front of Kern County Superior Court next to the Liberty Bell Thursday morning to make a statement about police brutality.
The death of a man in custody following a prolonged struggle with Kern County Sheriff's deputies and CHP officers and the subsequent fracas over confiscated witness cellphones have gained international attention and raised concerns here that the incidents could tarnish the county's emerging...
Sheriff’s investigators served a search warrant on Kern Medical Center and the Mary K. Shell Mental Health Center seeking medical records to find possible reasons for David Sal Silva’s behavior prior to and during his encounter with law enforcement, The Californian learned Friday.
Blood stains are still visible on the sidewalk at the corner of Flower Street and Palm Drive, where a Bakersfield man struggled with as many as nine officers and later died this week.
Responding to what he called a case that “has consumed the media and our community,” Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Tuesday he has asked the FBI to conduct a “parallel” investigation into the death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva, who died May 8 after he was beaten by deputies.
A war of words erupted Friday over video footage taken of David Sal Silva’s deadly encounter with law enforcement officers.
Bakersfield College will vacate its 2012 state football championship and forfeit its regular-season wins from the 2011 and 2012 seasons because of California Community College Athletic Association rules violations.