SQUIDFRY 08.02.18: Oil Money

OIL MONEY… As Squid gears up for another season of the reality TV show that is Monterey County elections, Squid first decided to recap the June primary for kicks. Candidates had until July 31 to file campaign finance reports, and Squid thought it strange that Margaret Duflock, a South County oil baroness – and, in 2014, the number-one check writer to her son-in-law’s brother, Sheriff Steve Bernal – hadn’t given to the sheriff this go-round. So Squid did a little snooping and saw Duflock’s $50,000 this season went to the Monterey County Business PAC .

With $106,000 still in the bank after spending more than $65,000 this election season, the PAC is a big dog locally, and gave money to three successful candidates: Bernal ($10,000), County Supervisor-Elect Chris Lopez ($10,000) and County Supervisor John Phillips ($40,000).

The PAC’s money came overwhelmingly from the oil industry, with Chevron giving $75,000, Duflock as the second-largest donor and the California Independent Petroleum Association PAC shelling out $15,000. Meanwhile, the Monterey County Hospitality Association – repping the county’s number-two industry – threw in just $3,000. Even the politically mighty construction giant Don Chapin Co. gave only $1,000.

Squid’s not sure when “business” became a code word for “Big Oil,” but Squid will be watching whatever slick moves they come up with for November.

GOING LOW… When not busy napping or snacking, Squid’s been working on a time machine – not just so Squid can get an early viewing of the Game of Thrones finale, but so Squid can travel to a time where the discourse isn’t tainted by the dog whistler-in-chief.

Much has been said about corrosion of civility in America, but Squid never expected it to infect our local politics. That changed July 13 at a Fort Ord Reuse Authority board meeting: The issue at hand was a contract for an intersection makeover at General Jim Moore Boulevard and South Boundary Road, which Marina Councilwoman (and FORA board member) Gail Morton said she couldn’t support because she was concerned it would lead to litigation (FORA is currently being sued over South Boundary). And the way FORA’s rules work is that if a vote isn’t unanimous, it must come back for a second vote, effectively delaying the project by a month. County Supervisor John Phillips got downright heated. “We keep seeing this time and time again,” he said angrily. He then referred to a blight removal project in Marina the board had just approved: “We should have had these in reverse order, so we could have played tit for tat.”

Morton was silent, but Marina Councilman Frank O’Connell came to her defense and said, “[Phillips’] personal attack is just so below this board.”

Can’t we just all get along?