'Tis the season for giving, right?
Assemblyman Pedro Nava, running for attorney general, apparently hopes so.
Mixing business with pleasure, Nava sent out a greeting card Monday featuring his family photo, a warm holiday message, a written hope for peace — and a link to click for donating to his campaign coffers.
"Contribute today!" reads the card by the Santa Barbara Democrat.
Nava sent his card by e-mail, at least to some supporters, reflecting a growing trend in an era of Twitter, Facebook and electronic texting that has made written communication ubiquitous and instantaneous. Nava could not be reached for comment Monday.
Nationwide, the postal service is handling about 11 percent fewer Christmas cards and letters than in years past, spokesman Augustine Ruiz said Monday.
No statistics are kept on the number of Christmas or other greetings pouring into California legislators' offices this year.
But replace paper cards with electronic greetings entirely? Let die the longtime tradition used to prove Santa's existence in "Miracle on 34th Street?" Bah, humbug, politicians say.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria, are sending out 11,000 holiday greetings this year. All are traditional cards, on recycled paper, with the artwork, printing and mailing handled by volunteers or through donations, not at taxpayer expense, spokesman Francisco Castillo said.
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