99-BUCK CHUCK…Monterey Mayor hopeful CHUCK DELLA SALA may not hold the city’s top post—yet—but he’s got a couple of the seasoned politician’s key tricks, err, skills, down pat. Solid base of good-old-boy support? Check. Smooth smile and firm handshake? Check, check. Knack for sliding in just under the campaign contribution? Apparently Chuck’s got this one perfected, too.

On Wednesday, Oct. 25, Della Sala got an infusion of campaign cash from a wine and cheese reception at the MONTEREY PLAZA HOTEL. Della Sala’s supporters (and possibly some hotel guests who accidentally stumbled upon the event on the terrace and deciding they wanted to shell out some big bucks for wine and cheese) paid $99 per person to attend. Kinda sneaky, considering that, by law, campaign contributions over $99 must be publicly disclosed. In other words, Della Sala just gamed the disclosure rules.

It all sounds pretty sneaky for a one-term councilman. If Squid didn’t know better, Squid would swear Della Sala’s an old pro at these political games. Hmmm, Squid wonders if he’s considered a run for County Supervisor?

HANG IT UP…Beyond Squid’s hypnotic good looks and think-tank wit, Squid’s a mollusk not that different from most. Case in point: sometimes Squid leaves the ringer on Squid’s cell off. (Fine, Squid’ll tell—the ringtone is “Like a Virgin.”) And so Squid occasionally receives a  call a little behind schedule.

So Squid can identify with local businessman and late-blooming pol JEFF TAYLOR, who just announced his “grassroots” candidacy for the 17th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. SAM FARR. With two weeks to go in the race.

“With the apparent non-campaign of the listed Republican candidate ANTHONY DE MAIO,” Taylor says in the announcement, “I decided that the time was right to give the people of our district a viable alternative to Farr. I feel I have been called to serve the people of this district.”

Squid gets it. Taylor got the call. It’s just his ringer’s been off.

Jeff, here’s a voicemail from your new campaign consultant, Squid: “Grassroots” and “two weeks” only work in a campaign when it’s a canned food drive. Mr. Farr has served in the House since 1993; his local roots go back five generations; his dad was a state senator and local hero; he is liked and respected by ag leaders and environmentalists, local military officials and anti-war activists. Getting your Web site up “within the next few days” isn’t gonna hack it. And turn on your ringer. You’re gonna want to catch this next call. It’s from Earth.