Howdy, It appears our 49er/reminiscer Howard C. GARDINER was also a part-time politician:-))). Lets join him again at Horse Shoe Bar as he relates: "About this time [1851] the first political convention in PLACER County for the nomination of members of the Legislature and County officers was held at AUBURN, the county seat. One morning, while at work at my claim, I was notified that I had been elected as a delegate from the HORSE SHOE BAR PRECINCT:-))))) on the previous evening, and was expected to go with the others that day. At first I demurred, as I had no CLOTHES fit to appear in at a public convention, but the demurrer was overruled, so I went to BRONK'S, purchased a decent rig, and in less than an hour was en route for Auburn. "Party lines were drawn at the first State election, and conventions were held in every county by both DEMOCRATS and WHIGS. Arbraham BRONK, Captain George W. CLAPP, William KIDD, Captain THOMPSON, Henry FRENCH, and myself constituted the delegation from our precinct to the Democratic Convention at Auburn in the summer of 1851. The county seat was about eight miles from our Bar. We reached Auburn and participated in the proceedings of the convention, which was called to order just after dinner by a young lawyer named THOMAS, who was, I think, a Southerner. "Mr THOMAS was chosen chairman, and, on assuming the position, explained the object of the meeting. He suggested the order of proceedings. Committees on credentials and resolutions were appointed, and matters were conducted in accordance with the rules generally observed on such occasions. There was a full attendance from every precinct in the county. Apppropriate resolutions were adopted, and a full ticket was nominated. Abraham BRONK was nominated for county clerk and subsequently elected. The delegates were mostly strangers to each other, and aside from BRONK, I remember no county nominee.Everything passed off quietly; the convention adjourned with three cheers for the Democratic ticket, which at the ensuing election was successful." NOTE: Sorry, don't have any more specifics on the political slates or the county election results. Do any of YOU? Not that I have a special interest, but some other folks might. .I believe that in 1851, Placer County was carved from Yuba and Sutter Counties. Got one more from Horse Shoe before we move to other Northern mines:-)) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>