Cheap, fraudulent direct mail pieces

Press Release----May 24
Flyers Misrepresent Local Democrats as Republicans
　
Humboldt Republican Women Federated (HRWF) is protesting the distribution of deceptive mailings that have been sent to many registered Republicans by an organization that presents local Democratic candidates claiming to be Republicans. The fliers also claim to be offered as guides on how Republicans should vote. Three local Democrats paid to be listed as if they were Republican Candidates. Bonnie Neely, candidate for Fourth District Supervisor and Patrick Cleary running for Fifth District Supervisor are Democrats. The same is true of Paul Gallegos, who is contested in his bid to stay in the District Attorney‘s office.

Loren Hanks, candidate for Congressional Representative is Republican. That is true of Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVores who are campaigning for Barbara Boxer’s Senate seat. All the candidates for state offices on the flyers with the exception of Larry Aceves, a Nonpartisan, running for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction are Republicans.

The candidates paid advertising fees to be shown on the flyers. It appears likely that those distributing this primarily false information published the flyers as a profit making venture since whichever candidate bought first was presented as the choices of HRWF and Humboldt County’s Central Committee for the Republican Party. Democrats paying to be on the flyer knew that it was distributed as a partially false guide for Republican voters.

Colleen Hedrick, President of HRWF and a member of the Humboldt County Central Committee) said, “The publishers appear to produce the product primarily for the bucks. However, if similar flyers targeted registered Democrats we have not had reports on that happening. Those who bought space chose to be presented as if they were endorsed by Republican organizations. The flyers are sponsored by neither HRWF nor by Humboldt County’s Republican Party.”

The flyers also took on the role of telling Republicans how to vote on Propositions 14, 15, 16 and17. California Federated Republican Women are advocating No on 14 and Yes on 15, 16 and 17.

Colleen Hedrick
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Note: These deceptive mailers proclaim themselves "Voting Guides" - and there is a Republican version, a Democrat version and a Libertarian version. The creators use some legitimate names and candidates in order to appear legit.

It is just as dishonest to imply that Gallegos has the endorsement of the Democratic Central Committee. Neither he nor Patrick Cleary was endorsed by the HCDCC. They paid to be included - as did anyone else with an asterisk after their name.

What it is is a cheap way to get a direct mail piece in the hands of voters, and some candidates do not care about being honest.