Squid: Stacking the District 5 supervisor race threatens Dave Potter.

Game Time…Squid loves competitive athletics so long as Squid does not need to compete Squidself.

Football season gives Squid the opportunity to throw away $5 a week on a betting pool Squid never expects to win, but at least gives Squid a reason to cheer for one team over another.

Election season tends to be an even better bloodsport, especially as GOP candidates provide a reality TV show to rival Survivor, only wearing suits instead of loincloths.

(Maybe the truth is that Scott Walker just couldn’t eat enough insect protein to make it past 71 days. Whatever the case, look to this week's print issue for David Schmalz's report on the bizarre world that was the California Republican Convention earlier this month.)

Now Squid’s fascination turn local as county supervisor contests heat up. There’s no safe zones even for long-time incumbents like Dave Potter, who’s held the District 5 supe seat for five terms since 1996, representing much of the Monterey Peninsula, Highway 68 corridor and Big Sur.

Squid’s anticipating an announcement Wednesday from expected challenger Mary Adams, a political newbie who retired from her post as CEO of United Way Monterey County in June.

Potter had nearly $35K in the bank as of June 30, the most recent campaign finance reporting deadline. Adams doesn’t even have a registered campaign committee yet, meaning she’s lagging on fundraising, but she’s a seasoned professional when it comes to that: During her tenure at United Way, Adams raised more than $35 million for the nonprofit.

As the race heats up, Squid couldn’t help but contemplate some interesting match-ups: What if long-time Congressman Sam Farr, D-Carmel, decides he’s over gridlock in Washington and it would be fun to return to his old job?

Or Leon Panetta, who also held this seat early in his career, decides to re-retire from the walnut grove in Carmel Valley and return to politics? (Or maybe his son, Deputy District Attorney Jimmy Panetta, who’s considering a run for Congress if and when Farr does retire, would aim for a local beginning.)

Or maybe Farr challenger Casey Lucius, a conservative Pacific Grove councilwoman, will go local, considering P.G. to D.C. is a pretty ambitious jump.

Perhaps more likely challengers would come by way of Carmel: Sue McCloud, formerly mayor of Carmel and chief of station for the CIA.

Maybe she’ll finally go up against her old rival, current Mayor Jason Burnett who succeeded her, reportedly isn’t seeking re-election, and could snuggle right into a supervisor seat. That’s a race Squid would make extra shrimp-flavored popcorn to watch.

Repeat Monterey mayoral candidate, gadfly and relentless scout for intelligent life in space, Bob Oliver, would make a nice addition to the race.

In fact, now that Squid thinks about it, he might be of most utility helping search out intelligent life back on GOP reality-show island.