Squid rubs tentacles together at delicious machinations of 2016 supes races.

DREAM SEQUENCE… If Squid had a warm and fuzzy side, it would come out on election night, when all the political types gather to celebrate, wallow, eat and drink. There’s something almost sentimental about watching all those people honoring the tradition of democracy.

But there’s no time to let those warm and fuzzy feelings take over. Before the dust had even settled on Nov. 4, Squid started hearing rumors about who’s lining up to run in 2016, with two county supervisors, Jane Parker and Dave Potter, up for re-election.

On the Peninsula, political types are wooing prospective candidates to take on Potter. Rumor has it that Deputy DA Jimmy Panetta and Carmel Mayor Jason Burnett might make a stop in this county seat on their hopeful paths toward Congress. A more likely candidate: Mary Adams, president and CEO of United Way, who’s being courted by supporters.

Former Salinas mayor Dennis Donohue said he was retiring from politics to grow radicchio full-time. But he may be ditching aspirations to make the bitter Italian vegetable into the next kale, because he’s considering a run against Parker. “I’m interested in the race and I am going to take a serious look at it,” Donohue tells Squid. Asked if he had heard of other names being bandied about – among them Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio who defeated Felix Bachofner on Tuesday – Donohue says, “The beauty of democracy is choices and options.” Squid agrees, but finds it more beautiful when voters choose the better candidate.

TOTALLY BOSS… Speaking of dreams, Squid fantasizes about time machines. About punching a date into a keypad and, whoom! Back in time, baby. But it’s not because Squid’s itching to check out dinosaurs (Squid likes Squid’s reptiles small) or to visit the Summer of Love to… enjoy Squidself.

Rather, Squid would like a chance to go back and change Squid’s contract to include more lavish compensation for Squidself. (Squid currently buys shrimp popcorn only when it’s on sale.)

That’s where the dream gets real. Michael Houlemard, executive officer of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, has the time machine of Squid’s dreams. Readers will remember when Squid riffed on the proposed 8-percent merit increase to Houlemard’s salary the FORA board voted on Oct. 10 – even though Houlemard’s contract, effective months earlier (July 1), didn’t allow for merit increases.

Someone screwed up when the board approved Houlemard’s contract extension (to 2020) in March, as the new one was supposed to allow for merit increases like the old one. Now, the FORA board is proposing an amendment to be voted on Nov. 14 that would reinstate the merit clause and give Houlemard the raise. If approved, his salary will be $228,443. Time machine style! Squid can only dream.