Community Bank of Santa Maria President Jim Glines, left, is the state's best auctioneer. He won the title at the state championships. Another winner at the state level was his granddaughter, Ayla Lippincott, of Arroyo Grande. Vern_Ahrendes/Times

Vern Ahrendes -- Times.Business.Editor

SANTA MARIA -- You can't accuse Jim Glines of not being able to swing a deal.

The founder and president of Community Bank of Santa Maria can add two more honors to his list -- California State Champion Auctioneer and the state's Champion Rookie Auctioneer.

Glines, a Santa Maria resident, earned the honors at the State Auctioneer Championships in Sacramento.

Banker is state's best auctioneer

and I have always been enchanted by the auctioneer," Glines said. "I always thought than an auction was the purest form of economics."

He added, "whatever the perceived value is, the people will stop bidding."

After a long career in banking, Glines tested the auctioneering waters in 1998 when he enrolled in the World Champion College of Auctioneering in Bakersfield Business Editor Vern Ahrendes can be reached at (805) 739-2221 or by e-mail at vahrendes@pulitzer.net..

The state competition was a special one for Glines' family, as his granddaughter, 7-year old Ayla Lippincott, was crowned champion in the Youth Division of the Bid-Calling Contest. She is the daughter of Ivan and Danica Lippincott of Arroyo Grande.

The title qualifies Glines to represent the state at the International Auctioneer Championships during the National Auctioneers Association Conference in Orlando, Fla., in July.

"I grew up on a ranch in Cuyuma