PAUL CLINTON -- Reporter’s Notebook

Paul Clinton

For reporters, access is key.

Of course, many of the public records at our fingertips are also

available to any other average Joe -- birth certificates, property deeds

and city budgets.

But more important than access to records is access to people. Those

involved in the issue can usually tell you the most about it.

Gaining that access isn’t always easy. This is where we reporters earn

our huge paychecks.

As a rule of thumb, elected officials tend to be more open to sharing

information than paid staff members. However, as any seasoned reporter

will tell you, they don’t have to return your phone calls. It’s their

prerogative.

Call it the arrogance of the media, but these folks don’t really exist

if we can’t speak to them. Such is the case with Ross Johnson, the

veteran state senator who represents Newport-Mesa.

In my three months on the job, I haven’t spoken to Senator Johnson

once. It’s not for a lack of trying. On stories about his role in the

state’s special session on energy or his bills, Johnson usually sends a

two-line quote.

I’m sure he has a lot on his mind, but his counterpart in the state

assembly for Newport-Mesa, John Campbell, offers a striking contrast.

Campbell has been in office only since November, replacing the

termed-out Marilyn Brewer, but the assemblyman has put himself on the

front lines of the energy crisis as well as introduced 15 bills on

various issues.

Always willing to hash out an issue with a reporter, Campbell is

candid, available and unafraid to share an opinion on the issue at hand.

Yesterday, during a two-day stay in the district for a flurry of

meetings, Campbell sat down for an hour to discuss his bills.

In a lighter moment, Campbell revealed that he still owns stock in

Irvine-based Broadcom, which has plummeted with the rest of the market.

Anyone who has owned a tech stock can relate to that buy-sell-or-hold

quandary.

The policymakers have credited Johnson with bringing money to the 35th

District. The senator is also credited with rescuing $13 million for

environmental restoration in the Back Bay.

To be fair, Johnson was available for a profile in October, a

week-and-a-half prior to winning handily in the election for his seat.

But he has preferred to speak through his press deputy, who does return

inquiries most of the time, when I’ve called.

Heck, Johnson has more than three-and-a-half years on his term. I

should be able to get him before 2004.