Deputy Quackenbush Says, Drop That Actuarial Table!
If only Chuck Quackenbush had told us years ago that he wanted to be a policeman when he grew up, and not a politician — he and we would have been spared a lot of grief.
The former California insurance commissioner now wears the uniform of the Lee County sheriff’s department in Florida, and has, for well over two years.
Last week, as Quackenbush was handcuffing a guy wanted for domestic battery, the guy tried to make a break for it. There was a struggle, the guy got Quackenbush's Taser and pointed it at him, and Quackenbush pulled out his weapon and shot the man, who was last reported in critical condition. Quackenbush had some minor injuries.
If the parade of California politicians leaves a blank spot in your memory under Q, he was the insurance commissioner during the Northridge earthquake in 1994. He allegedly let insurance companies off the hook on fines for paying out less on policyholders' claims than their losses.
In a supposed tradeoff, the companies gave millions to "education funds" like sports camps his kids went to, and an education fund that Quackenbush used for television PSAs that were pretty much about the wonderfulness of … Chuck Quackenbush
The impeachment heat was on, and he resigned (investigators later decided not to press charges against him; a subordinate was sentenced to federal prison).
When the Lee County sheriff's department first asked why he wanted to wear its uniform, according to the News-Press newspaper in Florida, he said, "My wife and I have made a lot of money in real estate and now I can follow my lifelong dream of being a police officer."
What happens to a dream deferred? Politics ...
Quackenbush was not insurance commissioner during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. He ran for commissioner that year, Nov. 1994 and was sworn into office in Jan. 1995. Get your facts straight.
Posted by: La Citizen | August 30, 2009 at 05:09 AM
Check your facts. Quackenbush was elected insurance commission in Nov. 1994. He was sworn in Jan. 1995, so there's no way he was commissioner before, during and immediate aftermath of the 1994 Northridge quake you mentioned he was.
Posted by: Jake | May 12, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Florida is fortunate; Quack only got one of them. He wounded thousands in California. As for why he was never indicted, despite mountains of irrefutable evidence? The corrupt system he used to extort millions was the very same system every elected statewide official in CA used to their considerable financial advantage. That included the Attorney General. No one - and I mean NO ONE - in such an office wanted the system exposed to the public, as a trial would surely do. Hence, they made damned sure there would be no trial. The golden goose was saved.
Posted by: Sam Suitt | March 05, 2008 at 02:20 AM