Coronado Falls Short in the Race to Become Clinton’s Western Getaway

Doubtless there is great perturbation in private, but in public Coronadoans are handling their disappointment with great dignity.

Bill and Hillary Clinton are not coming for Thanksgiving!!

The Clintons’ Hollywood pals have apparently bested M. Larry Lawrence, owner of the Hotel del Coronado, and his wife, Shelia, in the unofficial race to become the First Couple’s First Friends in California.

The Clintons will hie today to the beachfront home near Santa Barbara of television producers Harry and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. There are hints that this will set the pattern for the next four years, alas.

For a few heady weeks, Coronado seemed in the running to provide on-going presidential hospitality: either at the Hotel Del or a nearby house (Crown Manor) on Ocean Boulevard owned by the Lawrences.

No one knows how the rumor got going, but it spread like sexy gossip at a slumber party.

The Lawrences preened; the Chamber of Commerce cranked up the puffery machine; businesses went yum-yum at the prospect of mobs of reporters and governmental factotums spreading money around.

“I was hoping the Secret Service would be hungry,” said Mike McCampbell, proprietor of Danny’s Palm Bar & Grill on Orange Avenue, “Home of the Slamburger.”

“I thought it would have been a fun way to meet some new people,” said realtor Evellyne F. Terzian.

While it lasted, the Coronado Journal checked out rumors about electronic gear being installed at Crown Manor (no) and the admiral’s house at North Island Naval Air Station being eyed as an alternative (no).

Coronado, of course, is hardly Clinton country. The Coronado election numbers went thusly: Bush-Quayle 45.5%, Clinton-Gore 26.5%, Perot-Stockdale 25.9%.

Hard feelings remain. Some regulars at Danny’s are still wearing black ribbons to mourn Clinton’s victory.

Rafael (who uses but one name), a hair stylist with Island Beauty Supply, is unfazed by the he’s-not-coming news: “I’m still disappointed he was even elected.”

Before the bubble burst, the Sports Emporium sold T-shirts with a picture of Crown Manor and the logo, “Western White House.” The supply went quickly.

There are no plans for a second shipment.

Thanksgiving, Mexican Style

Here’s some more.

* Rubio’s restaurants throughout San Diego County are serving turkey tacos today. For people who can’t wait until Thursday.

* Tom Connolly, the Democrat elected in the 77th Assembly District, has picked his top staff: Dena Holman will be his chief of staff, and Howard Owens will be a legislative aide/press secretary.

Holman was Connolly’s political consultant. Owens has been a reporter for the (El Cajon) Daily Californian and covered Connolly’s campaign versus Steve Baldwin.

* For the first time in its 100-year history, the San Diego Police Officers Assn. has a woman on its board of directors: Sgt. Sue Payne.

* The talk of City Hall: Peter Navarro is doing a poll to assess his chances as a possible candidate in the 1st District City Council race next year (Abbe Wolfsheimer is the incumbent).

Anyone nixing Navarro is asked to explain why.

* Proof that Trekkie-ism is growing.

The Star Trek Convention is coming (in January) to the Convention Center for the second straight year.

With Leonard Nimoy. Expanded to two days from one.

* San Diego bumper sticker: “Support Search & Rescue: Get Lost.”

De-Mousing KGTV

There’s no film at 11 on this, but the newsroom at KGTV (Channel 10) has been hit by a mouse invasion.

The staff is split between the environmentally correct types who want only traps that capture the mice alive for relocation, and those who are willing to chop the heads off the little rodents in old-fashioned traps.

Reporter Steve Fiorina is among the hard-liners: “I’ve done major rhinoplasty on three of the rascals this hunting season.”

On the other side is assignment editor Jack Moorhead, who has a deluxe “mouse motel” that can lure a dozen a mice without harm.

He’s prepared to relocate the mice in a nearby field accompanied by soft music (“or maybe rock ‘n’ roll.”)

But there’s been a hitch: “I’ve not caught one damn mouse.”