Bill Maze is a former state assemblyman and longtime farmer. Before participating in a panel on the merits and perils of splitting California, he laughed and reminisced in the green room about his childhood hobbies.
Q. What is your favorite holiday and why?
A. Easter. It’s a fun time of year because it’s spring, and of course growing up in the San Joaquin Valley, there’s the fresh newness of everything coming out in the new year-new crops coming, new projects. I’ve got six granddaughters who love it. And sometimes it falls on my birthday!
Q. What did you have for lunch today?
A. An apple, some Fig Newtons, and a couple glasses of water.
Q. Do you have any secret talents?
A. Crafting furniture and cabinetry.
Q. What makes you impatient?
A. Not many things. I learned to roll with punches many years ago.
Q. When did you last laugh and why?
A. About a second ago-we’re enjoying the moment here! [Laughs.]
Q. If you could live in any time period, which would you choose?
A. I think we’re in the greatest time that there is. We’ve seen magnificent discoveries, methods of travel, computers. There’s never been a greater time in history.
Q. What was your childhood hobby?
A. Playing outdoors. That included riding steers, catching crawdads, fishing, swimming in the river, eating watermelons. We had a fun childhood.
Q. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
A. Men being discourteous to women.
Q. What do you put in your oatmeal?
A. Honey, brown sugar, and vanilla creamer.
Q. What do you drive?
A. A Honda MDX and a pick-up.
*Photo by Sarah Rivera.