Aug 29, 2010 (Contra Costa Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Every two years, I take a whirlwind tour of Contra Costa County without leaving my chair.

By way of background, the Times has for nearly two decades helped produce Election Previews, televised round-table interviews with local candidates.But hey, as I told Tubbs, go for it. If he beats Miller on Nov. 2, I'll have in my backyard one of the biggest political upsets in the nation. Unexcused ABSENCES: Democratic Assembly District 15 Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan and District 11 Democratic...

I moderated from the Contra Costa TV studio in Martinez a three-day marathon recording session last week with roughly 100 candidates in 24 races ranging from Congress to the Assembly to city councils to school boards.

The end product is 13 1/2 hours of election coverage coming to your public access television station.

But if you don't have a couple of extra days to watch candidate forums, here's a quick take on some of the most interesting and entertaining moments, and as you might guess, not everything happened on camera.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: There's always one in the group. Concord City Council candidate Art Talley was not only late but his cell phone rang during the taping. As he tried to turn it off, he serenaded us with a selection of his ring tones.

CONFIDENCE IS GOOD: Congressional District 7 GOP nominee Rick Tubbs, after the segment finished, turned to me and said, "Do you still think I can't win?"

Uh, yeah. Tubbs is challenging the wildly popular, 32-year veteran Democratic Rep. George Miller in a deep blue district.

But hey, as I told Tubbs, go for it. If he beats Miller on Nov. 2, I'll have in my backyard one of the biggest political upsets in the nation.

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ELK GROVE, CA - Job seekers dressed to impress and printed out new resumes for the Employment Fair at the Elk Grove Regional Park Wednesday morning.Organizers say more than 30 different businesses from the Sacramento region were expected to attend the event to discuss career opportunities. Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Elk Grove) said Wednesday's fair was needed since Elk Grove posted a 10.3...

Organizers say more than 30 different businesses from the Sacramento region were expected to attend the event to discuss career opportunities.

The Employment Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Elk Grove) said Wednesday's fair was needed since Elk Grove posted a 10.3 percent unemployment rate in June.

"Putting Californians back to work is my top priority in the Assembly," Buchanan said in a press release. "This fair provides an opportunity to connect job-seekers with prospective employers."

The Employment Fair will also feature resume feedback and job training resources.

Excerpted from: www.news10.net.