Local officials peel off their professional personas to share their favorite games – and reveal if they are sore losers.

Tina Nieto

Monterey County Sheriff

What was your favorite game growing up?

Monopoly – I loved picking different tokens, but the car was always my favorite. Ironically, I now live where the most iconic car events in the world take place: the Concours d’Elegance, the Quail and all the other Car Week celebrations.

Do you still have it and play with it?

Yes – I’ve got several versions, including a Halloween edition and a law enforcement edition. Only difference? In mine, no one gets out of jail for free.

How competitive do you get?

I save my competitive streak for election season – Monopoly never needed campaign signs, and I’m fine settling for Marvin Gardens.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Cheat? Never. I’m the sheriff. But after watching some other electeds at Board of Supervisors meetings, I’ve learned there’s always a gray space between “Pass Go” and “Go to Jail.”

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

I’m not sore either way… but I do enjoy a good victory lap around Boardwalk – preferably at Laguna Seca.

Tyller Williamson

Monterey Mayor

What was your favorite game growing up?

Monopoly, which is like the longest game ever. Everybody in my family hated me for it. My dad would make everybody sit at the table and play because that was my game of choice, and as much as everybody refused, they had to comply. Then of course I’d get the eyeroll.

Why did you like it so much?

Mwahahaha!

Do you still have it and play with it?

Yes, I have Monterey-Opoly. I don’t have the original in the house.

How competitive do you get?

I’m pretty competitive, but I’m not the most competitive. My older brother is the most competitive in the household. He complained the most about having to play the game, but once the game started, he’d be the loudest, most aggressive player. Then I’d be grumpy and pissed off.

I don’t know why I initiated in the first place. This is kind of therapeutic – I’m reflecting on my childhood.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Not that I know of. I take games pretty seriously, so I’m fully invested in it and want to have that authentic, really competitive [experience]. If I were to win [by cheating], I wouldn’t have the enthusiasm because it’s not real.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

No. Maybe it’s just my personality. I’m definitely competitive, but I also value kindness – this is actually very therapeutic – so that way, my brother wouldn’t be such an asshole.

Rosalia Moon Webster

Owner, BiG SuRCuS

What was your favorite game growing up?

Scrabble.

Why did you like it so much?

Because I love words and spelling, and math. It’s all of those. I still love Scrabble so much that I’m answering in the moment how much.

Do you still have it and play with it?

I do. But I’m not a really good game player with other people, so I play online Scrabble with people I don’t know. I don’t like to lose. That’s why I built the SuRCuS, it’s a place where people play games and there’s no winning or losing. But when I play online, I crush.

How competitive do you get?

I don’t like to lose. So I’m all in if there’s a competition. I was the number one wine-seller for three years in a row for every quarter at Nepenthe, and I don’t drink. If I don’t want to play a game, I’ll say no, but if someone puts me in, I will win.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Umm. Yeah. The Big Sur River Run, I’m dyslexic, and when I was in high school, I thought the “Finish Lap” sign said finish the lap you were on, because there were like seven of them. I was clearly not winning, I was so embarrassed, people were calling me the winner. But the band was good and people were clapping. I don’t like to run anyway. I was fully busted.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

I’m a great winner, but I’m a sore loser. I don’t like to lose. But not really, I try to keep myself out of situations that would make me feel sore. That’s why I play people online – I can’t stand the gloater.

Sonia De La Rosa

County Administrative Officer

What was your favorite game growing up?

We played Sorry!, Monopoly, Uno and Clue a lot. There were five of us, and we kept ourselves busy. This was the 1980s.

Do you still have it and play with it?

I haven’t played any of those in years. We mostly puzzle now. I bought them for the kids, who do play Uno.

Jimmy Panetta

U.S. Representative, District 19

What was your favorite game growing up

Kickball.

Why did you like it so much?

It was a team sport in which I could contribute, and I could kick the shit out of that red, rubber, bouncy ball.

Do you still have it and play with it?

Unfortunately, my kickball days ended after I left Tularcitos Elementary School in Carmel Valley. However, it laid the foundation for my playing sports throughout my formative years and my competitiveness today.

How competitive do you get?

I’ve learned to contain my competitiveness, but definitely use it when necessary, especially during these tough times in dealing with the opposition in Congress.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Never, but I’m sure my two older brothers would have a different answer.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

Losing sucks, but you always need to learn from your losses to get better so that the next time you can win!

Luis Alejo

Monterey County Supervisor

What was your favorite game growing up?

As a kid, I loved playing checkers and chess with my dad. He was very competitive and rarely let us kids win, but when I did manage to beat him, it was a great day. My mom also loved board games, so we often played the classics – Uno, Life and Monopoly – with all my siblings crowded around the table. These games were part of our family long before Atari, Nintendo and electronic games became the craze. Later, when I was an undergrad at UC Berkeley, I picked up chess again and would spend late nights in our Latino student house on Piedmont Avenue battling it out with friends.

Why did you like them so much?

Those games were classic fun, but more importantly, they gave us quality time together as a family even during years when we didn’t have much. Some of my best childhood memories are sitting at the table with my parents, laughing and competing. My father passed away five years ago, and I only wish I could play just one more game of chess with him.

Do you still have chess and play it?

I still have a chess set. My schedule doesn’t leave me much time to play, but I’ve held onto it with the hope that one day I’ll find a worthy challenger again.

Tina Rau

Pacific Grove City Councilmember

What was your favorite game growing up?

The Game of Life.

Why did you like it so much?

Because it didn’t last as long as Monopoly. Or Risk, we played a lot of Risk.

Do you still have the game?

No, we moved on to Scrabble and other games like that.

How competitive do you get?

On a scale of 1-10, probably a 10. I’m a pretty competitive person in general.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

No.

Norm Groot

Monterey County Farm Bureau Executive Director

What was your favorite game growing up?

Monopoly.

Why did you like it so much?

Competitive capitalism at its best!

Do you still have it and play with it?

Yes, when family is together.

How competitive do you get?

I’m a born winner!

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Never.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

Nope.

Joel Mendoza

North Monterey County Fire Chief

What was your favorite game growing up?

My favorite “game” was definitely Follow the Leader on BMX bicycles. It wasn’t organized like a sport; it was just how my friends and I spent every free hour. We’d take turns being the leader and challenge each other to hit difficult obstacles.

Why did you like it so much?

It was the freedom and rush we felt. We mostly hung out outside on our BMX bicycles, and Freedom, Calif. was our playground. The “tracks” were a combination of dedicated dirt jumps we’d build and, honestly, whatever properties we could sneak onto without permission. The excitement came from constantly pushing our physical limits and the slight thrill of knowing we were probably doing something we shouldn’t be. With the bikes, we felt invincible and the masters of our playground.

While those outdoor adventures are great memories, the one thing that truly defined the next phase of our youth was the arrival of arcade video games. That 25-cent obsession really took over our spare time for a while. We pooled every spare cent we had for games like Pac-Man, Asteroids, Dig-Dug and Tron. If I see one of those old cabinets today, I’m still dropping a quarter in.

Do you still have a BMX bike?

I do still own a bicycle and ride for exercise, but I’ve traded the backyard BMX tracks for state or county mountain biking trails. As for the actual BMX I rode back then, that’s a story: One of the kids I grew up with stole it. But many years later, as adults, he replaced it for me. I still have that bicycle – a physical memory of that era – hanging in my garage.

How competitive do you get?

When playing Follow the Leader, it was more about challenging myself, but there was still a fierce competition to be the most daring leader. Even the little bit of Marbles we played required a focused eye and a steady hand – it was a low-key but intense challenge to knock my friends’ marbles out of the circle. I’ve channeled that energy into my professional life today.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

We didn’t cheat, but we certainly bent the rules! The easiest way was during Follow the Leader on our bikes. If the leader pulled off a tricky move – say, riding a thin curb without falling – and you crashed, you’d often just shout, “I made it! My foot didn’t touch!” to avoid being called out. In Marbles, we’d argue every shot, too, of course.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

The biggest disappointment came when losing to a buddy on an arcade video game. Losing a game of Asteroids or Pac-Man meant shelling out another quarter immediately for a rematch, and those quarters added up fast!

Eventually we learned that we had to respect the outcome, win or lose. Even today, I still try to be a good sport. Honestly, I still feel a bit bad that as a society we moved so quickly from all that physical activity to the digital world.

Hillary Theyer

Monterey County Free Libraries Director

What was your favorite game growing up?

I grew up playing with a large family of a variety of different ages. Cards can be played anywhere (including at a picnic, in a tent, or on the floor) and Uno can be adjusted widely to compensate for the ages of those playing.

Do you still have it and play with it?

I still have a worn deck (one of many) and we taught people the game and played many rounds at my most recent family reunion.

Jose Luis Barajas

Salinas City Councilmember

What was your favorite game growing up?

I was very much into Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s a cartoon; you’re just mimicking something happening in the show. It was similar to pretending we were wizards, but in this case, you’re a waterbender or a firebender, etc. Really, it was me running around in a park doing random martial arts type motions.

I used to basically force my brothers and sister and cousins to play. I was always from the Water Tribe, someone was from Earth Nation, etc.

Why did you like it so much?

Out of all the games we could possibly play, that was the only game that really forced us all to really be involved at all times, because we were all constantly “fighting” with one another. It was a fun opportunity to get more folks involved – if we were playing tag or hide-and-seek, it’s just one person.

Do you still play it?

I do not, but I’m an uncle now [to two 1-year-olds and a 9-year-old] so I just have to roll with whatever they’re in the mood to do. As of late, it’s been the Bluey craze.

How competitive do you get?

Definitely not competitive. I’m more there for the camaraderie that comes from playing games.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Not that I can recall.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

I wouldn’t say so. Like I mentioned, I’m just there for the spirit of the game, the fun of the game. Win or lose, I’m going to have a good time.

Elsa Jimenez

County of Monterey Director of Health Services

What was your favorite game growing up?

Jacks and Marbles. They were not expensive to buy and entertained us for hours.

Do you still have it and play with it?

No, I no longer have the sets.

Natalia Corazza

La Neta Murals Co-Founder

What was your favorite game growing up?

One of my favorite games was probably Candy Land. I think it was my favorite because I didn’t have it at my house, and only got to play it at my godmother’s with my siblings and neighbors. It was a colorful board game with different characters with different personalities and we liked to invent gossip for them while playing the game.

Do you still have it and play with it?

I no longer have the game, my godmother passed, and I haven’t played it in probably 15 years.

How competitive do you get?

I’m usually not competitive, but occasionally with trivial games like these, I can be.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

I most certainly have been caught cheating on a game, especially as a child. We all occasionally cheated, or changed the rules as we went along to make things more interesting.

Zoe Lofgren

U.S. Representative, District 18

What was your favorite game growing up?

Canasta.

Why did you like it so much?

My grandfather, who taught me to play, let me win. I thought I was winning on my own!

Do you still have it and play with it?

No.

How competitive do you get?

I hate to lose.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

My husband and I stacked the deck when playing bridge with our children as a joke – but they didn’t laugh!

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

I don’t get sore except from riding horses.

Maia Carroll

County of Monterey Administrative Office

What was your favorite game growing up?

Sorry! and Mousetrap which was fun until you lost all those darn pieces. Go Fish and Gin Rummy card games. Card games were used a lot as you could take them anywhere and play anytime.

Do you still have any of those and play with them?

I have a fun little collection of decks of cards from vintage airlines, Lego brand to Palace of Versailles. I don’t play often anymore but I made sure my kids got in on the next generation of board and card games. They have their own game nights with friends.

Todd Fisher

The Meatery and Bear + Flag Roadside Chef and Owner

What was your favorite game growing up?

Monopoly.

Why did you like it so much?

I wanted to own everything. And I still can’t help myself.

Do you still have it and play with it?

I do, occasionally.

Do you get competitive?

Oh, yeah.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Accused of, never caught.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

I’m a super boastful winner and a bad loser. But I played with my brother. You always want to beat your brother.

Nick Pasculli

County of Monterey Administrative Office

What was your favorite game growing up?

Trouble.

Why did you like it so much?

I suppose I am competitive in nature and like it because it is completely a game of chance and requires strategy… which I relate to my professional career journey.

Do you still have it and play with it?

Oh yes, often with friends on a Friday or Saturday night. It is a crowd favorite.

Nicola Reilly

Monterey Symphony President and CEO

What was your favorite game growing up?

Scrabble and charades.

Why did you like it so much?

Scrabble was the only thing I’d do with my mom and I became really competitive with it in school. We would play charades every Christmas Eve with the entire neighborhood and it became a profound childhood memory for me.

Do you still play them?

Yes, I get so excited whenever anyone wants to play charades and I’ve made it a point to teach my kids how to play Scrabble.

How competitive do you get?

I get really competitive. Whenever we play Taboo, I take it seriously because it’s about working with a team. And you have that competitiveness for only a moment.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

No, I’ve never cheated. That’s not fair to cheat.

Are you a sore winner and/or sore loser?

I’m getting better at being a loser. All I want to do is have fun. That’s my general philosophy about life right now.

Magnus Torén

Henry Miller Memorial Library Executive Director

What was your favorite game growing up?

Soccer, or football as it is known where I come from.

Why did you like it so much?

Hanging out with friends with a ball that is round is just the best.

Do you still have it and play with it?

Not really. I have a soccer ball laying around, but part of the problem with a soccer ball in Big Sur is that you just lose it all the time. It rolls down the hill and it disappears down into the canyons. There’s not enough flat areas.

How competitive do you get?

With soccer, when you play a match it’s all about winning. So then you get very competitive and play very hard. The more the team coordinates among each other, the more fun it gets. When you’re like 12 years old, you don’t like to lose.

Have you ever been caught cheating on a game?

Well, many, many, many times the referee has blown his whistle and caught me cheating, I guess, but also oftentimes it was involuntarily making the mistake of the ball bouncing up on your hand or felling some competitor unintentionally.

But there have been times too where an intentional quick bounce with the hand has happened and I have gotten caught. That happened many times.