Jon Ralston on the cozy setup of commissioner and recorder candidate

Friday, Sept. 8, 2006 | 7:30 a.m.

I'm sure the cozy county family is upset that commissioners can't simply appoint someone to replace Recorder Fran Deane. But if you have to hold an election, the next best thing is to help install one of your own in the office.

Lost amid the hullabaloo of Deane's forcible removal from office is that the race to succeed her features a county employee who also happens to be a commissioner's business partner.

No one ever pays much attention to this race (of course the position should be appointed). But that lack of scrutiny leads to phenomena such as Fran Deane, whose efforts to exploit her public office for private gain landed her before the state Ethics Commission and who now faces similar allegations in a courtroom.

The most interesting contender vying to take over the recorder's office is Debbie Conway, the Democratic nominee who is a close associate of Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates. Conway runs the business development division of the county's finance department and has been in government for a decade and a half.

Even more provocative is that Conway is a partner in a limited liability company called Built by Yvonne (guess who?), which the commissioner says has been acquiring and selling land since it was established about 18 months ago.

Atkinson Gates said Thursday that she has nothing to do with Conway's decision to run - a statement Conway echoed. In fact, Atkinson Gates insisted, she thinks "it's a bad move."

Why? "I would encourage people to make their money first and then run for office," Atkinson Gates said. "You just lose. The money isn't that great."

Not that her experience is the object lesson because Atkinson Gates appears to be doing just swell. She has endured criticism and skepticism for building an expensive home outside her district and claiming to be living in an apartment away from her husband and daughter. And a little less than a month ago, she created yet another company, Gates and McClain Construction. A vow of poverty she has not taken.

A commissioner, a developer and a land trader? A very nice gig. And, apparently, Atkinson Gates doesn't have to worry about her friend's financial well-being, either. Conway says no one would have to worry about her "doing anything underhanded" as recorder because she is a developer and is "financially sound enough ... I have my money."

The head of business development and a developer? Almost as nice a gig as her partner.

Conway says she hooked up with Atkinson Gates this year when she found out "she was doing the same thing (development)."

Conway also said that she intends to stay in business with Atkinson Gates if she is elected recorder.

"I don't see it as a conflict," she said. "I'm a developer. That has nothing to do with recording documents."

Really? I would think it might be an advantage for a business to have a partner who runs that office. But I am not a developer, so what do I know?

What I know is that Conway has to be considered the favorite to win the race. Atkinson Gates says she will start raising money for her partner, and the other Democrats on the commission, including party boss Tom Collins, surely will support her, too.

Her Republican opponent, Jim Edwards, has little money and is making his second bid for the office. One dark horse might be independent hopeful Gil Eisner, a savvy, peppy old-timer who has been active in Sun City politics. Eisner also has a lot of relevant experience, including a stint in the Los Angeles assessor's office.

Experience is nice. But it probably can't compete with the juice Conway brings by virtue of working for and with a county commissioner.