VotePaul.org - from the Eureka Reporter

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.

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.

Dikeman is clearly 'in bed' with local law enforcement

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:03:41 -0700

Author:
George Shieman

Body:

Dear Editor,

District Attorney Paul Gallegos is absolutely doing the right thing by distancing himself from the police and law enforcement unions by refusing to seek the union endorsements. The fact that those particular unions and some of their members have been so anxious to oppose Mr. Gallegos is an extremely good reason for people to vote Tuesday and keep him in office.

I have a longtime friend who was police chief in the Bronx, N.Y., and police chief of Minneapolis for 10 years who writes books about law enforcement. He is constantly adamant about one thing, and writes:

“The first and most important decision that a law enforcement leader (or elected official) makes is whether they are going to serve the people or throw themselves into bed with the union. ... It will quickly be perceived that the people’s interests and the union’s desires are usually in conflict. ...The most unfortunate omen ... is that the police union praise him or, heaven forbid, endorse his appointment or election.”

Gallegos dealt with resentment from day one in office

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:03:16 -0700

Author:
Terry Lee Clark

Body:

Dear Editor,

One very important fact has received minimal attention during the district attorney race: Paul Gallegos took over an office filled with people whose loyalty was to his predecessor, and who resented their new boss from day one.

Mr. Gallegos deserves great credit for his tolerance of all the snakes in the grass that have been slithering about the DA’s Office since he was elected in 2002. Were Gallegos the political animal his detractors try to make him out to be, he would have cleaned house several years ago, and Mr. Dikeman would in that event now be in private practice or, better yet, another county.

Dikeman lost reader's trust during the recall campaign

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:02:50 -0700

Author:
Adam Jamin

Body:

Dear Editor,

I am supporting Paul Gallegos for District Attorney. Mr. Dikeman lost my trust during the failed recall attempt. When he announced his candidacy, Mr. Dikeman very convincingly stated he was not running against Paul Gallegos, but was appearing on the ballot only to prevent another candidate from winning. He repeated that statement many times in many places. Then, two weeks before the election, when the recall was predicted to be a close vote, Mr. Dikeman reversed himself, suddenly announcing that he was better qualified and Mr. Gallegos should be replaced as unfit. He finally came out in favor of the recall. That’s a dirty, nasty, low-down trick.

Paul Gallegos has done more with less, deserves re-election

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:02:08 -0700

Author:
Jennifer Keller

Body:

Dear Editor,

Of all the differences between the candidates for district attorney, one that no one seems to talk about is: which man has ever run a business?

Paul Gallegos was in private practice for many years before becoming district attorney. He had to live on a budget, pay rent and utilities, make a payroll, fund his bar dues, finance a library, buy malpractice insurance, pay for supplies and manage the many other expenses involved in running a law firm. He knows how to make do. And as far as I can tell, he’s done a remarkable job with a shrinking budget. He even pitches in and tries murder cases himself, something no other DA in California does.

Dikeman's proximity to law enforcement is disturbing

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:01:31 -0700

Author:
Eric V. Kirk

Body:

Dear Editor,

If I was asked to cite only one reason I am voting for Paul Gallegos instead of his challenger, Worth Dikeman, it would probably be Mr. Dikeman’s response to Mr. Gallegos’ second debate reading of what seems to me a very innocuous and commonsense principle from the American Bar Association Standards for Criminal Justice: “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.”

Mr. Dikeman answered only that the ABA standards are not “binding” (though they are recognized by the California District Attorney’s Association).

Paul Gallegos does a fine job, despite all his detractors

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:01:10 -0700

Author:
Dr. Richard Scheinman

Body:

Dear Editor,

Paul Gallegos has done a fine job as district attorney, in spite of the unprecedented attack upon him by the reigning powers of the past in the form of a recall attempt, which the voters here soundly beat.

With almost the same staff of attorneys as the previous DA, and despite budget cuts, he has led them to a better record of prosecutions of the usual crimes, and has put the corporate powers in the form of MAXXAM on notice that they are not outside the reach of the law — something that his predecessor was loath to do. He deserves our support and our vote, so he and we can continue forward.

Dikeman being propped up again as a local hero

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:00:27 -0700

Author:
Chuck Thomas

Body:

Dear Editor,

Evidently Humboldt County’s ruling class was all aflutter when Paul Gallegos was elected DA. Fearful that our county would plunge into a state of lawlessness, they decided to engage in a little South American politics — a junta. We rubes here on the home front were told it was a recall election.

Worth Dikeman was propped up as the people’s choice to replace Gallegos if the recall succeeded. Election time has rolled around again and Dikeman is back, reprising his role as the local hero who can stem the insidious crime wave that has gripped our county.

I, for one, am grateful. It’s just not safe around here anymore. Oh, how I long for halcyon days when the Ingomar set ran things and we all knew our role.

Setting the record straight on Dikeman's "dirty dozen"

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 13:19:01 -0700

Author:
Alison Sterling Nichols

Body:

At his first press conference in January, which I attended, Worth Dikeman pledged he’d run a positive campaign. He then played a four-year-old phone message from Paul Gallegos to some unknown person. The KINS reporter asked, “Is your playing of this ‘secret’ tape the kick-off to your positive campaign?”

We all laughed, but clearly Dikeman was launching what political observers are calling one of the most negative and dishonest campaigns this county has seen.

Now, four months later, I must set the record straight on what I term “Dikeman’s Dirty Dozen,” the 12 worst misrepresentations by Mr. Dikeman’s campaign.

Electoral process gives the power to the people

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 13:02:48 -0700

Author:
Paul Gallegos

Body:

You elected me to serve as your district attorney because you wanted a working DA who would bring new management and problem-solving skills to the DA’s Office and our justice system. I have done that.

The District Attorney’s Office is more responsive, accountable and effective today than it has ever been. Not only are our families safer today, but I am committed to further increasing public safety, public confidence in our system of government and justice throughout this county.I have done that by personally trying cases, and also by introducing modern technology, filing systems, record-keeping and retrieval systems, and by streamlining decision-making and accountability processes. As a result of these changes, and despite the loss of more than half a million dollars and of more than one out of every six people due to budget cuts, Humboldt County is experiencing its lowest rate of violent crime in more than 15 years.

Decline in CAST numbers unrelated to District Attorney

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:08:13 -0700

Author:
Kay Rackauckas

Body:

My name is Kay Rackauckas. For 12 years, I proudly served as a deputy district attorney in Orange County. For several of those years, I was a sexual assault/CAST prosecutor. I am also the mother of a 5-year-old son.

Over the Memorial Day weekend I was vacationing in Trinidad and became intrigued by the District Attorney’s race. I have never met either candidate. After hearing Mr. Dikeman’s allegations regarding District Attorney Paul Gallegos’ handling of the CAST unit’s performance, I did some research and felt compelled to write to your paper.

Mr. Dikemans’ allegations are baseless and without merit. They are obviously politically motivated and designed to mislead voters, who are unaware of how such units actually operate.Orange County was among the first counties in California to implement the CAST protocol. CAST is an acronym for Child Abuse Services Team. When a child claims to have been molested, he or she is not interviewed like an adult but is questioned by an expert. The child is placed in a room with the interviewer, while the police and deputy district attorney simply observe from behind one-way glass. Often the interview is taped so the child does not need to repeat the same subject matter to multiple questioners.

Native Americans, use voting clout to keep Dikeman out of DA office

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:04:30 -0700

Author:
Robert Ulibarri

Body:

Dear Editor,

Draconian theories that Native American’s may not be suitable for the jury pool because of cultural beliefs are just nonsense.

Yes, there’s a history here. Yes, there are incidents of racism where Indians were excluded from the jury pool based on the court records. And yes, Dikeman is not as forthcoming as he should have been on his statements to the media regarding this issue.

The Indian vote is growing stronger in Humboldt County. That’s good, and it positions reservation communities to demand more from the District Attorney’s office and other political leaders. More Native Americans voting will serve to increase the momentum, pride and power of the Indian voice in Humboldt County.

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.”