Nutting’s wife to run for his seat; appeal filed
By Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee
The last time people witnessed the determination of Jennifer Nutting, she stood in the well of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors chambers as her husband, embattled Supervisor Ray Nutting, wiped away tears.
The board voted to ask a judge whether Nutting must be kicked out of office for official misconduct as a result of misdemeanor convictions for improperly raising bail money from two county employees and a major contractor doing business with the county. In an emotionally charged speech, Jennifer Nutting hailed her “hero” and lit into those who “maliciously prosecuted my husband.”
Now Jennifer Nutting says she is running for her husband’s seat, which was declared vacant by Superior Court Judge Timothy S. Buckley at Nutting’s sentencing June 6. Six candidates have now opened campaign committees or officially announced that they will run in the Sept. 9 special election to replace him.
Nutting’s entry into the race to serve out the last 21/2 years of her husband’s term adds yet more flair to a long political and legal drama that has raged in El Dorado County. Nutting, who owns a Pollock Pines hair salon, registered a campaign committee Tuesday called “People for Clean Government, Jennifer Nutting for Supervisor.”
On Monday, Ray Nutting’s attorney David Weiner filed legal papers declaring Nutting’s intention to appeal his criminal conviction. Weiner said Nutting is seeking a new trial on the misdemeanor counts and will challenge the judge’s order forcing his removal from office.