Canine politics

Gov. Jerry Brown’s dog Sutter visited Chico Oct. 25 to encourage phone bank volunteers to get out the vote for Brown’s “pet” Prop. 30. The measure is Brown’s bid to raise money to offset the expected $6 billion in cuts to K-12 schools and community colleges. It increases sales taxes by 1/4 cent over four years and boosts personal income taxes on earnings over $250,000 for seven years. The short-legged, 9-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi warmly greeted approximately 75 attendees, allowing anyone to pet him at the Chico Democratic Headquarters on Mangrove Avenue.

“He’s royalty and extremely well-behaved,” said his handler and self-described “spokeshuman,” Jennifer Fearing, who is accompanying Sutter on his 30-city “30 for 30” tour.

The crowd cheered when Mayor Ann Schwab handed Sutter the key to the city—a two-foot long wooden trophy in the shape of a key with a dog biscuit handle and inscribed with the phrase, “Yes on 30.”