POLITICAL PICTURE: At their best, public opinion...

POLITICAL PICTURE: At their best, public opinion polls offer snapshots of the mood of the voters at a specific point in time. And, as of the Field Poll in July, neither of Ventura County’s candidates for statewide office was making much progress. In the race for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) had only 19% of voters compared with Democratic Controller Gray Davis’ 49%. In the race for controller, former Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) had 26% compared with Democrat Kathleen Connell’s 31%. A whopping 43% were still undecided.

HOT SEATS: At most theatrical and musical performances, the best seats in the house often go to generous patrons of the arts or those with political pull. And with the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s tantalizing lineup of big-name acts, those groups have been tussling over who will control the action. . . . Behind-the-scenes maneuvering ended this week as the City Council agreed to power-share (B4). Now, five big donors can join the Civic Arts Plaza’s Board of Governors.

OCEAN MYSTERY: Veteran watermen give the Santa Barbara Channel the respect afforded a junkyard dog. The islands and the mainland act like a wind tunnel, strengthening winds until they whip the sea into a frenzy. . . . It’s been 16 months since seven crewmen and the commercial trawler Vil Vana disappeared off Santa Cruz Island (Ventura County Life, Page 8). The Coast Guard cannot figure out what happened. And the mystery haunts families left behind.

GOT A GRIP: At 6-foot-3, Tony Jelso of Ventura was an aggressive, intimidating presence on the racquetball court. He was on a winning streak, capped by a gold medal at last summer’s U. S. Olympic Festival in San Antonio (C10). . . . Then, at his coach’s urging, the 24-year-old tried a more conventional grip, abandoning the one he has used since he was 10. Suddenly, he lost his confidence and started losing. . . . Now, Jelso has settled on a hybrid of his new and old grips. And he’s winning again.