Posts Tagged: Alex Vassar

Opinion

Snark has been around for a while

Social media snark! Image by Brian A Jackson

OPINION: It is comical to listen to people complain about the loss of reverence in the Legislature, how things were better once upon a time, and how things are so much worse now than they were “back when I was a staffer.”  People seem to think that political snark is something new and exciting. It is not. Snark has existed for a long time.

News

Where are they now? Wadie Deddeh

Sen. Wadie Deddeh in 2015. (Image: Screen capture, via YouTube., from Baitna Project testimony.

There are five people alive today who each served more than a quarter-century in the California State Legislature. Four of the five served as the leader of a house during their time in Sacramento. The last member of the quarter-century club is 97-year-old Wadie Deddeh, who moved to the United States in his late 20s, rose to power as chair of the Revenue and Taxation committee, and retired from the Legislature in 1993.

News

Where Are They Now? Assemblyman Willard Huyck

Willard Huyck, right, and Assemblyman Matthew Harper. (Office of Matthew Harper)

Former Assemblyman Willard Huyck is probably one of the more notable state legislators that you’ve never heard of. He was elected to the State Assembly at age 29 and served two terms before leaving to run a medical supply company. Now, more than 70 years after first arriving at the Capitol, Huyck is California’s oldest former legislator ever.

News

Where are they now? Adrian Fondse

Former legislator Adrian Fondse in the orchard near his home in Ripon. (Photo: Alex Vassar)

Just over an hour south of Sacramento on Highway 99 is the small farming town of Ripon. East of town are miles after miles of almond groves. Driving past rows of trees on a nearly empty road, you may come to a small clearing with a sign noting that you’ve arrived at “Fonz’s Place.” And it literally is.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Alex Vassar

Alex Vassar. (Photo: Tim Foster)

John Howard and Tim Foster take a short tour of the California state Capitol with “unofficial” legislative historian Alex Vassar. Alex shares some tales from his new book, “California Lawmaker,” about a few of the 4,424 people who have served in Legislature since the state’s inception. Alex serves up stabbings, shootings and fistfights on the floor — and that’s all from just one incident!

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