Fargo vs. Johnson: Handwriting analysts, astrologists weigh in

Political pundits say many of you vote for the person you'd rather have a beer with. And that means what you really care about is personality.

If you want to understand the issues in the Sacramento mayor's race, check out www.sacbee.com/mayor. We in Scene are sticking to a different kind of analysis of the front-runners – incumbent Heather Fargo and pro basketball player-turned-developer-and-educator Kevin Johnson.

We consulted a handwriting expert and two astrologers, one who focuses on Western astrology and another who looks at Chinese astrology. This is what they found based on handwriting samples the candidates provided us, as well as when and where they were born. Even the candidates themselves seemed surprised at how accurate the assessments were.

See who you'd rather clink pints with.

Heather fargo

Born at 12:36 p.m., Dec. 12, 1952, in Oakland

Handwriting: Heather's handwriting reveals a conventional thinker who loves to help others. She blooms when she knows her efforts are appreciated. Sociable and easy to get along with, she's a quick, clever thinker who can jump effortlessly from one thing to another and make intuitive connections. She has a generous, warm way of dealing with others and is sensitive to their feelings. Bottom line, this is a people person who really cares about others on a personal level and wants to make the world a better place for each individual who lives here.

On the other side, she may find it hard to say "no," plus it's hard for her to express negative feelings, which can leave her feeling overburdened and stressed because others keep loading her down with more and more requests. However, she's got plenty of resilience and is quick to bounce back. She focuses on day-to-day operations and has plenty of energy and stamina to get things done.

Western astrology: Heather Fargo is a Sagittarius, with the Moon in Libra and Pisces Rising. Astrologically, this combination outlines someone who is good with people, has an expansive outlook, and operates from a place of idealism and envisioning what could be. She has enormous talent to work with groups and organizations, and charm and likability in the public. Her birth chart has three planets (one of them actually the Moon) in her House of Relationships & Partnerships, so a focus of her life is being drawn into working and blending with others. She is not a loner. However, Saturn (planet of hard work but also hard lessons) is aligned with her Moon, showing struggle in some of her relationships, and someone who is stubborn and can rub others the wrong way. At times, internally, she may feel alone.

Her Sagittarius Sun is in the House of Freedom, indicating that she needs freedom to operate in ways she thinks are best; she is not happy under the thumb of others and does not suffer fools gladly. She has two planets in her House of Goals, so she is extremely goal-oriented.

A strong focal point in Heather's chart is that Pluto, planet of profound change and power, is in her House of Health & Work of Service. This shows long-term issues having to do with her sense of strength, her power to achieve, health, and her inborn sense (which she has had since childhood) that she must work hard and produce results. Her last two years have been challenging. Currently, Pluto is impacting her career, underlining her determination to stay strong and serve the public. This she is likely to do because Jupiter, planet of expansion and new blessings (and the planet that rules her Sagittarius Sun), is also spending 2008 in her House of Career.

Chinese astrology: Heather Fargo is a Dragon: pizzazz, spunk, flamboyance and sentimentality characterize this sign.

Much in demand for her vitality and impressive appurtenances, the Dragon Lady is a living duality. By her very existence, she is a contradiction in terms. She may seem sophisticated, worldly wise, strong-minded, and prudent in the extreme. At the same time, she can be brutally down to earth, warmhearted, generous, and lovingly understanding.