One Reason Why Politics and Common Sense Don’t Seem to Mix

Here’s what people are saying and doing. Deal with it as best you can.

* Oscar Wright, regional administrator of the federal Small Business Administration, to the Catfish Club on Friday:

“When a politician asks you to vote for them and common sense, they’re asking you to vote twice.”

(P.S. He’s a Bush Administration appointee.)

* Ray Grayson of El Cajon writes to say: “If voting is a sacred right, how come it never puts a saint in office?”

(I’ll get back to you on that one.)

* Former Councilman Wesley Pratt has joined the San Diego office of one of the state’s top black-owned law firms, Oakland-based Harrison, Taylor & Bazile.

Principal attorney in the local office is Bea Kemp, Urban League leader and chairwoman of the Stadium Authority board.

With Pratt aboard, the firm has just signed the Convention Center and downtown redevelopment agency as clients, as well as other big-time accounts.

“He’s quite a rainmaker,” says Kemp.

For those who don’t watch “L.A. Law,” that’s jargon for a lawyer who brings an abundance of clients-money-prestige to a firm.

* Death and taxes.

As a cost-saving idea, the Service Employees International Union (which represents county employees who are fearful of layoffs) has suggested that the district attorney stop seeking the death penalty in murder cases.

Once the D.A. goes for the death penalty, defendants get additional legal defense, often at public expense.

SEIU says seeking life imprisonment without parole could save much money. Maybe so, but don’t look for it to happen.

“Capital murder is so serious it requires capital punishment,” says Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. Brian Michaels. “The SEIU argument is a bad one from a public protection perspective.”

The SEIU idea is also not likely to be popular on the campaign trail.

Says Councilwoman Judy McCarty, running for 3rd District supervisor: “No way.”

Time for a New Lesson Plan

Things to look for (or at).

* A billboard off California 94 (just west of Lemon Grove) advertising a health insurance plan advises in big letters, “Teach Your Children Well.”

Good idea but maybe a bit late. The billboard is already covered with gang graffiti.

* Bumper sticker on Interstate 5: “As Long as There Are Tests There Will Be Prayer in Schools.”

* Susan Bray’s lawsuit against the city of San Diego is set for federal court next week.

She wants a lot of money because she claims city officials violated the secrecy clause of the $100,000 settlement in her sex harassment claim against ex-Planning Director Bob Spaulding.

Her attorneys have offered to settle out of court for several hundred thousand bucks. The City Council, in closed session, has said no deal.

* L’Auberge Del Mar (good hotel, pretentious name) is featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” next Sunday, 12:30 p.m. (Channel 39).

A crew this spring filmed actress Robin Stone (“Coach”) and her boyfriend, Paul Zimmerman (the comedian), in the spa and hotel environs and the Volvo World Cup equestrian event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Robin Leach did not make the trip, but he’ll provide the (nasal) narration anyway.

Cubs May Take a Hit at New Sluggo’s

Chicago-style hotdog impresario Norman Lebovitz makes a bold move soon when he relocates his Sluggo’s in La Jolla to a new spot on Fay Avenue.

After seven years on La Jolla Boulevard, Lebovitz decided he needed a bigger, more prominent site.

As always with Sluggo’s outlets, the interior decoration (posters-pennants-pictures) will be strictly Chicago sports, heavy on the Cubs. Lebovitz is a big-big Cubs fan.

So strong is the cross-town rivalry among Chicago baseball fans that Lebovitz refused to have any White Sox stuff on the walls at the La Jolla Boulevard store.

That may change when he moves to the Fay Avenue digs.

After all, the building owner (and Lebovitz’s new landlord) is San Diegan Billy Einhorn, whose brother, Eddie, owns the White Sox.