Poor SAG ...That Annoying Constitution ...

The folks over at SAG, Sacramentans for Accountable Government, are gnashing their teeth over a judge’s tentative ruling yesterday that would bar the strong mayor initiative from the June 2010 ballot. Why, they wonder, would Judge Loren McMaster let a piddling thing like the Constitution stand in the way of their audacious power grab?

While Mayor Kevin Johnson and others think the democratic process is being squelched, they are conveniently forgetting how the Boss Mayor plan was hatched – in a back room. This was no grassroots movement. It was the brainchild of a small cabal, which included right-wing attorney Tom Hiltachk, consultant David Townsend, and former Sacramento City Manager Bob Thomas. Thomas, if you recall, was ousted by the Sacramento City Council and was one of Johnson’s foremost “advisors.” Under the strong mayor initiative, Thomas could lead the city by proxy.

Judge McMaster will hold a hearing today before making a final ruling.

The fight does not end here, though. The ruling will be appealed and the campaign will continue until the Boss Mayor Initiative is dead and buried.