After Deadline: Talking influence

That hasn't changed since the age of dirt.

that are inherent in these positions. Not so much certain people that change from time to time.

The power is found is who has the most authority. In City and County government the position itself dictates authority. And I still say the City and Country leadership. That includes  council-members, etc.

Well maybe.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt

are the only players in town who can suggest with a straight face that we should end 132 on Needham and have semi tractor trailers driving around downtown Modesto and have StanCog say that it makes sense.

Out of town developers likwe Gerry Kamilos with his $28,000 donation to Grover and had the site  for development(West Park) triple in size and no one else be allowed to bid on it.

We can't forget PMZ, meaning Petrulakis, Madison, and Zagaris who between themselves and their friends(which would include the Chamber of Commerce) control the Modesto City Council.

And of course the Alliance along with their young off-spring the CommonWealth Club.

Throw in a couple of the largest churches and you have most of them.

Did you learn nothing.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt

After_Deadline, care to weigh in on Modesto's power brokers?

I guess not. Wow.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt

I'm hoping we can have some fun with this, but maybe it's just not in the nature of The Hive to have a tongue in cheek, friendly discussion about local personalities.

My list would kick off with industry. Gallos, Rogers, Costa, Beard family, Zagaris. I'd include the directors of the city hospitals up high, and the Reed family, which owns a pretty big chunk of downtown. I could be wrong on all fronts, but it's a better start than I had back in Merced five years ago.

TS, it's my impression that the chamber, the alliance and the BIA only exert as much influence as their members want. It's easy to pillory Joy Madison, Steve Madison or Bill Bassitt, but there are boards of directors for those organizations that are guiding them.

Leaving business, it appears to me that Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour is able to use the most wasta in politics, particularly because of his collaborations with other local governments. I'm not sure how he built it, but Ted Howze sure seems to have disproportionate influence in Turlock.

HamHock, this thread is a little more fun if you look past the title and ask who's using the influence of their jobs. I'd agree that Modesto City Manager Greg Nyhoff and County CEO Rick Robinson belong on any county influence list.

How about education? Nonprofits? Law enforcement?

So, who else are we talking about in Turlock AD?  Just wanted to hear your thoughts on it.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt

His downfall is his willingness to throw other Conservatives under the bus. Look what he did to Kurt Vander Weide.

In Turlock I wouldn't overlook Mark Hall or the Gemperle's.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt

That's the rumor.

retirement system...I was hoping the Bee would be looking at who set the system up.

Back then....the BOS was way too close to the other PTB in the County...

Krusnick....Wilson....Weidman.

For years...these three used their power and influence with the BOS to the degree they could pretty much write their own ticket.

Well....actually....with help from some like Richard Beshears....they did.

Weidman for one....was so close to BOS members...he ran an election campaign or two for Mayfield.

Why does it seem wrong that a member of the BOS would be so close to the Sheriff?

Because it is wrong.

The BOS controls the budget of the Sheriff.

The BOS works closely with the County's CEO.

Shouldn't there be some degree of separation for clarity's sake? A little buffer room?

Those days it was just not there.

While your list provides the direction from the top down, more of my list provides the oopmh to get people elected.  And since some of the two lists overlap I suggest maybe both have a place in the final tally.

Back when Weidman had a standing weekly lunch date with Bee publisher Dickerson....and met often with the Bee's editors for coffee or breakfast...many considered this a smart political move by Weidman.

Many talked about the Bee having a "hot line" to Weidman's office.

I agree with those who feel that the Bee helped keep a certain perception of Weidman in the public eye.

Did this closeness with Weidman influence the Bee to support Christianson during the last election?

Did the Bee help elect Christianson by slanting negative news toward Puthuff?

I think so...does anybody else?

My point...the media should not be in bed "so to speak" with elected officials.

How can the media do it's job as a "watchdog" if it is eating out of the same bowl as those it is supposed to watch?

the Peanut's character Linus carries his security blanket,  for protection. 

It keeps him safe.

and lobbying the Board of Supervisors...

There's never any bias in the McClatchy News.

The same people who always have. The Landowners. The real Landowners who own this County and Modesto.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. RISE UP.

I did take influence to mean power.

"The survey asked participants to identify the 20 most influential or powerful people in Merced. The answers of each participant were then cross-referenced. The names mentioned most made the grade....

..The survey showed that elected officials are perceived as holding power -- but it also revealed that many of the people seen as the most powerful are little known to the general public."

Just like our neck of the woods.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. RISE UP.

Opening up his baggage and declaring himself a changed man was the best politcal move Christianson made in the last election.

I still remember how the Bee brought it up....there have been rumors...as if Puthuff was spreading lies.

It was the only way the Bee and Christianson could sell his past "negative history".

I mean....what better way to sell yourself than to "come clean" about your criminal act,  financial failures and termination for conduct unbecoming an officer?

Thank God....for second chances...and Les Weidman!

To be fair to Chris...I am sure he was sold a bill of goods regarding Christianson.

I know he worked hard....too bad he was not able to use information I gave him about Christianson.

Your comment about Puthuff imploding...what are you referring to?

The election night comments?

Christianson's record....are you referring to the lawsuits?

Lying to the Bee about the BOS?

I have a completely different take on the Bee's coverage of the election.

In my opinion...Christianson was handed the job by Weidman and the Bee.

I also don't forget that there was talk of vote mixups!

It will be interesting to see if Christianson makes it to election time....I have my doubts.

Early in the campaign for sheriff, Mr. Puthuff told our reporter, Chris Togneri, something to the effect of "... if only you could see what's in Adam Christianson's personnel file."

Of course, we have no way to see that, unless the employee wants to share it with us.

We asked Mr. Christianson and he said, "Yes."

Then we asked Mr. Puthuff to see his. Given what he had said earlier, he likely felt he didn't have much choice. He, too, agreed.

Chris then spent most of a week combing through both candidates' files -- noting career achievements, commendations, evaluations and other information. And he spent hours talking to Mr. Puthuff and Mr. Christianson.

It was unprecedented access and led to side-by-side profiles of the two men on Sunday, May 7, 2006. Those stories can be accessed in our archives today.

Dave Lyghtle
Managing Editor

Chris started the article with....Early this year a rumor began spreading about one of the candidates for Stanislaus County sheriff:

That Adam Christianson was fired from the Modesto Police Department in 1995 for racial discrimination.

Are you saying this is what Puthuff stated?

Or did he say you should see Christianson's personnel file?

Either way...those "rumors" as Chris called them...were pretty close to the truth....weren't they?

So close that the MPD could not "resolve" the issue.

I think the important thing to remember about Christianson's past...was that if he were to have applied for the job without going through Weidman...he would not have passed the SO background.

To be honest...Weidman was advised by his command staff to not hire Christianson.

So Weidman can take full responsibility for hiring Christianson.

I have read the articles....and stand by my opinion.

of their go along to get along motto to me.

Otherwise know as the dance called  the McClatchy spin.

But they wrestled it to the mat...:)

That's what Mr. Puthuff referred to in a conversation with our reporter, which in turn inspired our request to see both candidates' files.

We never referred to a source for the rumors, which virtually everyone associated with law enforcement in this city had heard.

what Puthff had stated.

I do have another question.

Do you think there were some readers out there who may have gotten the impression that since these "rumors" were about one candidate...they originated from the other candidate?

Virtually everyone associated with law enforcement had heard?

The only rumor/fact that I heard before the Bee's article...was that Christianson would not pass the standard background for employment with the SO.

This was true...of course.

I attended several Puthuff campaign events without hearing the "rumors" Mr. Togneri spoke of.

I knew negatives about Christianson at that time...but...I did not know the details of his termination from MPD...or his arrest for theft and bankruptcy...until I read it in the Bee.

The conversations I had with those in LE about Christianson centered on his lack of qualifications...his reputation as a major kiss-up and manipulater...and the reasons behind Weidman suddenly endorsing a green Lt. who did not even meet the required qualification to promote.

We had plenty of current issues to talk about...we didn't need rumors.

Thanks again for responding to my post.

DLyghtle, I supported Adam in the past election, but that is now history and has no place in the next election. Do you believe Adam Christianson is effective as our Sheriff and has he lived up to your prior editorial expectations?

After_Deadline, I know you did not write any editorials during the past election, but I am also interested if you believe Adam Christianson is effective as our Sheriff and has lived up to your expectations of a Sheriff?

I will look forward to your responses.

With all due respect, it's not professionally appropriate for Adam or me to respond specifically to your question. Whatever we think individually doesn't matter.

We will cover the sheriff's campaign -- as we do other local elections -- by focusing on the candidates, their qualifications and the key public safety issues that affect residents of Stanislaus County.

Neither Adam nor I is a member of The Bee's Editorial Board, which determines the institutional stances represented on our Opinions pages.

Dave Lyghtle
Managing Editor