Steve La Rosa: What is your greatest memory of walking precincts?
Rob Fong: My memory of how steadfastly you stood by your vow! (Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, the writer, to show support, once accompanied Fong on a city council election-run precinct walk, stating, “I’m walking, not talking.”)
SL: I kept my word. I was there to show support.
RF: Yeah…great non-verbal support. It was like walking precincts with Harpo Marx.
SL: You’re most welcome. Where were you born?
RF: Sacramento.
SL: Exactly where?
RF: Mercy General.
SL: Room number?
RF: We couldn’t afford our own room. I remember the hallway was bright and noisy.
SL: Extraordinary powers of recall….
RF: Well, I was there.
SL: Was there a plaque erected on the site?
RF: No, but my mother has kept my bed in an unmade state at the family home in Land Park. She, just like you, kept her vow…
SL: What was her vow?
RF: “If you don’t care if your bed is made, then I don’t.” So, my bed lies in state…unmade state. My parents live in the house I grew up in. They’re constituents of mine…which is weird.
SL: What was it like, growing up in this town?
RF: I can’t imagine a better place to grow up. I remember playing all night in the summer. You could go anywhere on your bike and leave it anywhere. Buying a “Suicide” at Vic’s for fifteen cents. It’s a Coke with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry syrup.
SL: Wow. The kind of daring that presaged a maverick-like political career.
RF: And if you’re going to have a cheese dog, you’d be insane not to have a Suicide… honestly.
SL: You were wise beyond your years.
RF: My childhood was dirt clod fights, tree house forts and a lot of comic books.
SL: Impressive. You were a Renaissance kid.
SL: Who is cooler, you or your brother Jimmy?
RF: Definitely me. And that continues to be true…but he’s wealthy.
SL: What high school did "His Coolness" attend?
RF: McClatchy.
SL: And were you political in high school?
RF: No.
SL: Athletics?
RF: I very much enjoyed sports. I wasn’t on any school team. Making the team apparently wasn’t based on enthusiasm. There was a talent requirement. The coaches weren’t looking for a lot of clubhouse presence.
SL: Speaking of sports, I can remember taking golfing lessons with you at Haggin over a decade ago, and now The Bee comes out with an article naming you as number 4 on the 25 most influential in area golf. To quote Slim Pickins in Blazing Saddles, “What in the Wide World of Sports is a-goin’ on here?”
RF: I’m glad you asked me that question because I have to believe, Steve, that if I hadn’t had that experience with you, I might be No.1. In all seriousness, I’ve finally encountered someone who values enthusiasm over talent.
SL: Your greatest high school moment?…And don’t be humble or I’ll call Emilie (his Mom) for details.
RF: I was not a guy who peaked in high school. When I was in high school, I looked forward to going to college.
SL: Were you a shrinking violet?
RF: No. If you talked to the people I went to high school with, they would call me the class clown.
SL: Once again, we overlap.
RF: Yeah. You know the type. You were him.
SL: Were you political in college?
RF: I majored in political science, so I studied politics at Berkeley, Class of ’81.
SL: And law school?
RF: UC Davis.
SL: Any local notables in attendance?
RF: Darrell Steinberg.
SL: Want to spill any dirt on him?
RF: He dances like a white man.
SL: Has that hindered his political aspirations?
RF: Hasn’t so far.
SL: How did you get involved in politics?
RF: As I mentioned, Darrell and I were friends and classmates in law school. When he was on the city council, he was looking for a job. He sent me a letter. We hired him at Ryan & Fong. I had just gone through Leadership Sacramento with the Metro C of C and I thought the firm and I should get more involved with the community. I told Darrell. Next thing I know, he had me running for the school board. Every time I talk to Darrell, I remind him that I’m his responsibility.
SL: What Darrell hath wrought…
RF: Yeah, politically and otherwise.
SL: In politics, how important is good hair?
RF: I think on a sliding scale, it’s more important than it is for a career in radio, but less important for a career as a TV anchor.
SL: I think you dodged that hard-hitting question, but let’s continue. If you had a blank political check, what are some of your top projects you’d tackle in this town?
RF: I’d want to transform the riverfront into a place where everyone could enjoy it…to take advantage of that amenity…recreational opportunities, retail…make the riverfront one of the signature amenities of the region. I want to get the rail yards done…it’s a transformative project. Specifically, I’d like to get a California Performing Arts Center built in the rail yard. It’s critical that we build a new arena and events center – not only for the Kings and Monarchs, but to host the entertainment this city deserves. We need to transform Sacramento. I’d like us to be the Washington D.C. of the West Coast…the Capitol of the West Coast. We’re the capitol of the 5th largest economy in the world. We really should be the gateway to the Pacific Rim.
SL: Why didn’t you run for mayor?
RF: (Laughing) Why didn’t you?
SL: Snap! There was speculation in some circles that you cut some backroom deal with Mayor Fargo. Any truth to that?
RF: None whatsoever. The only deal I have with Heather Fargo is the same deal I have with the rest of my colleagues – to work together to try to make the best decisions for this city and this region.
SL: Tell us about Hemispheres, one of your pet projects.
RF: Hemispheres raises money to support arts programming for school – age kids throughout the Sacramento region. We have an annual roast to raise money and Darrell Steinberg was our first roastee.
SL: Was his dancing mentioned?
RF: No, but he showed up in a powder blue tux.
SL: Very metro…
SL: How far do you want to take this political path?
RF: I honestly haven’t given much thought to what my next thing is, but I am committed to running for re-election to the city council.
SL: What is the LuxLife to you?
RF: Going to the Hof Brau and ordering a turkey sandwich with double the meat.
SL: When you’ve made that order in the past, are there choruses of gasps?
RF: You can sense that all eyes are on you. For a split second, all carving stops.
