Gallagher one more social conservative

When James Gallagher emerged from relative obscurity a few months ago to run for Sutter County supervisor, you had a good feeling about him.

He's young, in his late 20s, and he went to U.C. Berkeley. Now here was a breath of fresh air in stodgy Sutter County.

Wrong. He's just more of the same.

That became quite evident last week during Gallagher's coming-out party as a social conservative.

His letter to this newspaper was an eye-opener as he noted that "marriage belongs to a Judeo-Christian cultural tradition that has served the foundation of this country since its inception."

He's got a point, but when someone — especially someone who will be your elected supervisor in January — starts quoting chapter and verse about chapter and verse, it's a little discomforting.

What was most disturbing was Gallagher's assertion that the state Supreme Court "has completely disregarded our traditions and the express will of the people." And, he continued, "If the mayor of San Francisco can disregard express state law, surely our county officials can disregard the fallacious decision of the California Supreme Court and stand up for what is right."

The mayor of San Francisco, old Gabby Gavin, has his agenda for sure, but you'd think a lawyer would hold the state Supreme Court in a little higher esteem.

But perhaps Gallagher's viewpoint isn't too surprising. As his own Web site notes, even though he went to U.C. Berkeley, he really didn't go to Berkeley.

"While at Berkeley, Gallagher was a leader in the conservative student movement. He served as Editor-in-Chief of The Patriot, a nationally recognized conservative news magazine and was elected to the student Senate," the Web site noted.

A conservative in Berkeley? He must have spent a lot of time in Piedmont.

And let's not forget Supervisor Stan Cleveland, or as this column will now call him, King Stan.

King Stan told this paper he preferred that the county clerk not perform gay wedding ceremonies.

"People are probably going to be upset with me about it, but that's too bad," he declared.

King Stan was channeling Dick Cheney. So! So! So!

Suddenly, Dennis Nelson doesn't seem so bad. Come back, Dennis. All is forgiven.

And then there's the man who started all this, Assessor Mike Strong, who has certainly charted his own course in Sutter County government.

For a long time, Strong was captain and lone member of Team Sutter's Mike Strong Brigade.

But now Strong has found kindred spirits in Barrister James and King Stan.

And finally there's Dan Logue, the real estate man in Yuba County. When he's not protecting the borders from illegal aliens, he's protecting the morality of California from married gays. A big job, indeed. Will he have time to be a legislator?

Harold Kruger is a veteran reporter and copy editor for the Appeal-Democrat. His column, "Off Beat," appears Sundays. He can be reached at 749-4717, or via e-mail at hkruger@appealdemocrat.com