IT’S GOOD TO BE GOP… Squid has nothing against Republicans. They throw better parties at nicer places, with really good food and booze.

And in Monterey County—where only 31 percent of voters are registered Republican—they win elections. After the June and November 2006 elections, Republicans hold 64 percent of local elected offices. In June, the MONTEREY COUNTY REPUBLICANS won every race they were in. In November, of the 36 elections in which there was a Republican candidate, they won 31. County Supervisor LOU CALCAGNO, Carmel Mayor SUE MCCLOUD, Monterey Mayor CHUCK DELLA SALA, Sand City Mayor DAVID PENDERGRASS, Marina Mayor ILA METEE-MCCUTCHON—Republicans all. Oh, and Squid doesn’t want to forget the two newest Monterey Peninsula Airport District board members, CARL MILLER and BOB DEVOE.

Now that all of the elections have been certified, and the new Republican public servants have been sworn in, it’s time for the Monterey County Republican Party VICTORY REPORT 2006, an “official correspondence” from MCRP Chairman PETER NEWMAN. “Once again it has been a very good year for the Monterey County Republican Party,” he writes. Sounds to Squid like it’s time for another party.

CHRISTMAS CHEER… Squid’s almost done shopping. The only thing left to pick up is bus schedules for MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT investigators, sergeants and commanders, now that they’ve all gotten word that their county-issued take-home cars are about to be repossessed by their boss, SHERIFF MIKE KANALAKIS.

Squid’s not dissing the well-timed holiday decision. It’s brilliant, really. It’s a reverse-psychology thing. Kanalakis was just complaining to the COUNTY SUPERVISORS about how deplorable department morale is. This must be a, “You think your life sucks now? Give me a month. You get a mediator to make me agree to a raise for you; I’ll show you who’s boss.”

Makes ‘em grateful. You go, Mikey.  

Besides, money’s tight. Cars cost money. How else is Kanalakis going to pay for that life-saving, 6 percent raise he just scored for UNDERSHERIFF NANCY CUFFNEY? How she’d been living on just $172,000 a year is beyond Squid. Sheesh.

Squid went looking for Kanalakis last weekend. No luck. Tipsters say Kanalakis planned to duck out of the DEPUTY SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION holiday party early to head to SPANISH BAY for a free dinner party thrown by a contracted jail vendor. “Isn’t this a gratuity?” one cop asked, “something the sheriff has a strict guideline about refusing?”

Um, no. It’s called free food. Now take your bus pass and load up. Squid’s got your back, Mikey.