Sometimes it takes a minute for big news in the city of Richmond to reach us over here across the Bay, but today we bring you a developing story involving two city councilmen over there, one named Butt, and the other named Boozé. Corky Boozé is something of a legend in Richmond political circles, having run unsuccessfully for City Council nine times before some people took pity on him and voted him into office in 2010. But Boozé appears to be naive to the political game in this, his first elected office, and a new online poll of over 100 citizens gives the rookie Councilman an average score of 1.8 out of 5. The guy who ran the poll? Veteran Councilman Tom Butt, who supported Boozé's run for office, but now finds himself regularly at odds with him in council chambers.

As the Chron's East Bay columnist Chip Johnson reports, Boozé had actually repeatedly asked Butt to use the popular e-forum on his website to gather some local opinion about Boozé's performance so far in office. The reviews are, largely, bad, and while these may mostly be coming from Butt supporters, they appear to represent a good cross-section of Richmond city wonks who are regularly paying attention to, and disapproving, of Boozé's grandstanding and general divisiveness. One person writes, "Corky is the most divisive councilmember we have, and that's saying a lot." You can read them all here, if you're still intrigued.

Anyway, Butt admits that the timing of the survey was meant to send a message to Boozé, to maybe knock him down a few pegs. "I thought it would be good for him," he says.

We'll be sure to let you know if this story blows up.

[Chron]