Oil Company Reps Win Dinner with County CEO

Four people who work for area oil companies have won a series of auctions County CEO Chandra Wallar held to raise money for Santa Barbara’s United Way chapter.

Former supervisor Mike Stoker — who is also a spokesperson for Greka Energy and is mulling a run for State Senate next year — won one auction, while David Pratt — president of Santa Maria Pacific Oil — won two auctions. They will be joined by Steve Grieg, governmental relations liaison for Venoco Inc.

Two seats were auctioned off each week for four weeks — beginning October 7 and running through November 4 — for the opportunity to dine with Wallar, who has been the county’s top bureaucrat for a little more than a year, at her home. The most recent auction raised $620 after 26 bids. The four auctions in total raised $1,825.

Wallar said she told the winners to expect idle chit-chat at the dinner table, and if “they wanted to talk business, to make an appointment.” She and her husband are tentatively planning to cook tri-tip and salmon on her husband’s “mega grill,” serving plenty of meat and plenty of dessert.