VotePaul.org - News Articles

Paul Gallegos Wins Re-Election

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:48:09 -0700

Author:
Jaybird Harvey

Body:
For the third time in four years, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos wins approval of voters.

Eureka, CA - In a close race that lasted late into the evening, Gallegos defeated challenger Worth Dikeman, who had overwhelming support of law enforcement in a campaign that has been labeled among the most bitter in Humboldt County history.

The relationship between the DA’s office and law enforcement was a central issue during the campaign. Gallegos, who did not seek endorsement by law enforcement, cited rules by the American Bar Association that state “prosecutors should take care to avoid any relationships with the police that might cast doubt on the independence and integrity of the office of the prosecutor.”

Gallegos Wins

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 09:02:31 -0700

Author:
Christine Bensen-Messinger

Body:

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos spent Tuesday evening with approximately 200 of his supporters at the Lost Coast Brewery celebrating his third election victory in the past four years.

With 98.5 percent of precincts in the county reporting, the elections office said Gallegos had 52.6 percent of the votes, while his opponent Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman had approximately 48 percent.

“I feel good, I feel tired, I’m grateful for the people of Humboldt County and I am looking forward to getting back to work,” said Gallegos in a telephone interview from his victory party shortly after midnight.

Gallegos heads for DA win

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 08:55:44 -0700

Author:
Chris Durant and James Faulk

Body:

EUREKA -- It looks like Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos will get another four years as the county's top cop.

In the bitterest race in the June election, Gallegos had 53 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman, with 94 percent of the vote counted at press time.

Over the last few weeks the candidates traded jabs, with accusations of lying, office mismanagement and the issue of the relationship of the DA's office with law enforcement agencies.

Scores of Gallegos and Measure T supporters crammed into the second floor of the Lost Coast Brewery on Tuesday night, initially cautiously optimistic. Later, as results began to trickle in, the crowd became electrified, buzzing with what seemed like an assured win.

Results to be broadcast on local radio

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:59:19 -0700

Author:
The Eureka Reporter

Body:

Residents will be able to hear the election results as they come in tonight with local radio stations KHUM-FM 104.3 and 104.7 and KSLG-FM 94.1 . As the Humboldt County Elections Office announces results in the races for district attorney and Humboldt County Board of Supervisors as well as Measure T, both radio stations will broadcast the information. Results in the gubernatorial primaries and state measures will also be provided.

Both sides getting out the vote

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:34:36 -0700

Author:
The Eureka Reporter

Body:
With the clock ticking to the end of the June 6 election, the heads of campaigns for Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos and his opponent, Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman, are asking supporters to join them in celebration after they vote.

“We’ve got people who are going to be working really hard on getting out the vote; if people need to get to the polls we’ll definitely find them a ride … and we’ll also be calling voters and encouraging people to get out a vote,” said Alison Sterling Nichols, Gallegos’ campaign manager.

Bear River Band claims Dikeman a racist

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 09:09:24 -0700

Author:
James Faulk

Body:

Rancheria asks tribes of California to oppose candidate

EUREKA -- The Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria has sent a letter to the tribes of California asking them to oppose Worth Dikeman in the race for Humboldt County district attorney.

"We may not be capable of serving on a jury but we are darn well capable of using our voting clout to keep him out of the DA's office."
--Howard McConnell, Yurok TribeDikeman has been roundly criticized by some members of the American Indian community for seeking to remove jurors of American Indian descent in a past case after saying that employees of tribes were resistant of the criminal justice system.

Expert witness says words were 'twisted'

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 07:35:21 -0700

Author:
Christine Bensen-Messinger

Body:

Although the statement was made more than a decade ago, Royal Alsup, a licensed family and marriage therapist and Ph.D. said he was unaware that Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney and District Attorney candidate Worth Dikeman had attributed certain quotes to him in court until he read it in an article in The Eureka Reporter last week.

“(Dikeman) twisted what I’ve been saying for so many years in court..."
--Dr. Royal AlsupIn an article that ran May 25, court documents cite Dikeman as making the following statement, “In this county we’ve had (expert witness) Dr. Roy Alsop (sic) come in here and explain to the courts, and I’ve seen this on the criminal calendar, child molesting is OK in certain Native American cultures, and we can’t treat Native American child molesters the same way we treat other child molesters, and have to treat them through the Indian culture center, and there are a whole bunch of people that violate our laws that are Native Americans and they go much more often through the Native American system than the criminal system, and to say that does not exist is frankly incorrect.”

Loony election heats up

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 17:18:10 -0700

Author:
James Faulk

Body:

Courthouse protest crashed by surfer girls

EUREKA -- You just can't make this stuff up.

Out in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse for the past two weeks, a small handful of protesters have been waving anti-Worth Dikeman signs, some claiming that the candidate for district attorney in the past discriminated against American Indians in jury selection.

Dikeman denies the claim, and points out that the conviction over which the accusations were made have been repeatedly upheld.

But on Thursday, the protest took a turn toward the ridiculous when the party was crashed by four young women, self-entitled “surf divas” wearing bikini tops and waving signs of their own.

Dikeman supporters stage satirical protest

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 17:10:16 -0700

Author:
Christine Bensen-Messinger

Body:

Drivers honked their horns and yelled out to the four girls who danced around in bathing suit tops in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse with signs that said “Surfing Divas for Gallegos.”

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos is running for re- election against Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman.

The girls, who are all seniors at Eureka High School and declined to give their last names, said the purpose of their spectacle was satirical.

Gallegos opponents refer to an incident that occurred during the DA recall when Gallegos got into a surfing accident during a work day, as a sign that he did not care about his job and would go surfing on county time.

DA candidates trade barbs in KHSU debate

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:44:30 -0700

Author:
James Faulk

Body:

Topics range the spectrum of campaign

ARCATA -- As the last few days of a busy and bitter election season wind down, the two candidates for Humboldt County District Attorney found time to blast each other once more on the public air waves.

Click here to listen to the KHSU and KEET debatesDuring a 90-minute debate on KHSU, incumbent Paul Gallegos and challenger Worth Dikeman squared off with their now well-worn accusations and campaign pillars.

Gallegos again trumpeted the drop in violent crime statistics and prison commitments, while Dikeman challenged the accuracy of those statistics and said the law enforcement community had given Gallegos a vote of “no confidence.”

DA candidates emphasize justice, professionalism

Tue, 30 May 2006 11:39:55 -0700

Author:
Heather Muller

Body:

District attorney candidates Paul Gallegos and Worth Dikeman spent some time with The Eureka Reporter over the holiday weekend, answering questions about the campaign, the Cheri Moore investigation — and ‘The Simpsons.’ The following reports are excerpts from those interviews.

THE INCUMBENT

District Attorney Paul Gallegos, 43
Married 16 years, with three children, ages 4, 7 and 9
Law degree from the University of La Verne in 1991
Born in Arlington, Va., a Humboldt County resident for the past 12 years

ER: How do you think the campaign is going so far?

DA candidates bring big dollars to county race

Fri, 26 May 2006 11:43:19 -0700

Author:
James Faulk

Body:

More than $200,000 raised in campaign for county's top cop

EUREKA -- The money in the district attorney campaign is already more than double the amount spent in the 2002 race.

But the cash pales in comparison to that of the recall election two years ago.

According to figures received by filing deadline Thursday, incumbent District Attorney Paul Gallegos has so far topped his opponent, but not by much.

Gallegos raised $116,005 overall this year -- $84,067 in cash, and $31,937 in in-kind donations. He's spent $127,665, and has $6,197 remaining on hand.

His largest contributors include attorney Michael Acosta with Bear River at $1,000; Sonia Baur of Garberville at $1,000; the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria at $10,000; C. Bowen of Berkeley at $5,000; Richard Cogswell and Ester Saunoras of Petrolia at $7,000; Orlando P. Gallegos of New Mexico at $10,000; Rory Hanson, a Eureka attorney, at $2,137; Law Offices of Jennifer Keller in Irvine at $2,500; Michael Shellenberger of El Cerrito at $1,000; Dana Soria and Mary Smith of Fortuna at $1,085; Tracy Katelman of Eureka, owner of Evergreen Forestry, at $1,786; and Rob Then of Whitethorn at $3,586.

Inquest to be held in Moore standoff

Fri, 26 May 2006 11:42:07 -0700

Body:

Hearing likely to occur in July, coroner says

EUREKA -- Coroner Frank Jager said Thursday there will be an inquest into the police shooting of Cheri Moore at the request of District Attorney Paul Gallegos, a rarely used process that will essentially air evidence surrounding the events of April 14.

Moore, 48, was killed after police stormed her apartment after a two-hour-plus standoff during which she brandished a flare gun and threw various objects out of her second story, downtown apartment.

The inquest will involve a randomly selected jury that would hear evidence in the case just like a court hearing. Witnesses will be asked under oath to testify about their knowledge of the death.

Dikeman questions Gallegos' shooting response

Fri, 26 May 2006 11:41:25 -0700

Author:
Kimberly Wear

Body:

DA challenger admits he's 'out of the loop' in Cheri Moore investigation

EUREKA -- Challenger Worth Dikeman accused District Attorney Paul Gallegos of delaying a decision on a recent police shooting for political reasons Thursday, but admitted he was “out of the loop” and unaware of where the investigation stood.

Dikeman said 40 days have passed since the shooting of Cheri Moore, leaving more than enough time for the district attorney to make a charging decision. He said his conclusion was based on past experience and media reports, including details of an April 27 press conference at which Police Chief David Douglas declared the shooting “legal and lawful.”

Moore shooting headed for Grand Jury?

Thu, 25 May 2006 11:46:21 -0700

Author:
Heather Muller

Body:

Each of the two candidates for Humboldt County District Attorney dropped a bombshell Thursday afternoon relating to the investigation into the Eureka Police Department’s fatal shooting of Cheri Moore.

Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman went first, calling in pointed terms for incumbent DA Paul Gallegos to hand off the investigation to the California Attorney General’s office, and accusing Gallegos of making “political hay” by prolonging the investigation.

Gallegos shot back, calling Dikeman’s remarks “an unadulterated lie that follows many, many other lies. I’m outraged. Completely outraged.”