Arnie Klein has been unfairly criticized for his involvement with the Family of Douglas Anderson-Jordet and the plea deal accepted by Élan Firpo. It's important for the public to know that I was the person who put Mr. Klein in contact with Doug's family. I contacted Arnie after reading his response to a letter I wrote, and he agreed to work on this case, pro bono. Arnie Klein offered help and hope by advocating for those who felt increasingly double-crossed by their representatives and alienated by justice.
Élan Firpo and her campaign politicized this situation with the press release titled, “Ms. Firpo responds to concerns about Ferrer disposition.” In this politically motivated and defensive press release, Élan Firpo threw Douglas Anderson-Jordet and his family under the bus, strictly to save face in light of her candidacy in the upcoming election for Humboldt County District Attorney. When faced with criticism from her opponents and the community, Ms. Firpo chose to dishonorably react, rather than to virtuously proceed. Her colossal failure to nobly handle this situation should be strongly considered on voting day.
◼ Ben Dale
Eureka
Times-Standard
I think Mr. Dale's letter is appreciated because now we know how Mr. Jordet's family contacted Mr. Klein. That should have been made clear from the start by the Klein campaign.
ReplyDeleteReading this blog, I am sorry to hear that Mr. Klein has had to take some time off due to health reasons. I hope he is better.
Mr. Dale does have a strong opinion regarding Ms. Firpo. What is Mr. Dale's connection, if any, to any of the parties involved?
He could have a bias against Ms. Firpo. The case was politicized because of the way it was handled in the media by one campaign that chose to make it the focus. To criticize Ms. Firpo for responding when she is not the one who put this case in the limelight is unfair.
If anyone has a criticism of Ms. Firpo's handling of any case, it should have been done professionally. That is the what supporters of all the candidates should keep in mind before commenting on blogs.
There have been many deaths recently due to violence. Let us keep all those affected by these deaths in focus.
Nice spin on the letter, but this was not Klein's fault. Accept responsibility for your own actions. But I know that's not the conservative way. It's always everyone else.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Firpo issue a release about the case ON HER CAMPAIGN LETTERHEAD? The Firpo for DA Campaign was not who was prosecuting the case. She should have sent it out on DA letterhead. It was a case being prosecuted by the DA's office. Neither mind the content as being totally inappropriate, and ultimately proven wrong by the Judge.
ReplyDeleteWhy should Firpo use DA letterhead? Her defense against Dollison's politically-motivated claims of her mishandling the Ferrer case was itself a political effort. It would be wildly inappropriate for her to use DA office resources to further her campaign goals.
ReplyDeleteAlso, to say that the judge proved Firpo's press release wrong is... let's say misinformed. From the reports on the hearing, the judge set aside the plea deal simply to remove any possible impression of impartiality on side of the court system. There was no determination of fact whatsoever. Gallegos is free to bring the exact same plea deal again.
So wait, it wasn't the family that initially contacted Mr. Klein?! Ever press release he's done has stated explicitly that the family reached out to him. How is this not blatant political maneuvering?
ReplyDeleteYou make a valid point.
Deletei'm not political and do not know anyone involved in this case/issue personally or professionally.
ReplyDeletei have not been paying much attention to the back and forth about this, just have read the press release firpo sent out. i did comment someplace that i did not think the self defense plea offered ferrer was appropriate.
to read that that fipro's letter of her justification, based on the facts known, was nothing but an act of self defense.
i found her justification of why ferrer and his friends killed this man was self-serving and shameful.
whomevers letterhead she used, i don't care. it's the disparaging things she said about that dead man that makes me angry.
i'm a very liberal person, not conservative in too many ways.
g'day all...
Do any of Maggie's trolls have jobs? Any?
ReplyDeleteStop! I just spilled coffee on my keyboard.
DeleteCould be Arnie trolls. Don't let Maggie supporters hog all the credit.
Anon @ 1:29, the family DID contact Klein. Read the letter again. As for Firpo, there was a comment some time back about Firpo using the confidential information about the Ferrer case when she responded on her facebook. The point here is that each DA employee must sign a confidentiality statement at the time of their employment, which she did and violation of this agreement is grounds for termination.
ReplyDeleteMy question to the DA Gallegos and county, is why have they not fired Firpo for violating this agreement? And has she been disciplined for this performance action?
I read somewhere that Firpo requested permission from the family before releasing her statement. Perhaps if the family agreed, it allows her to release information that would otherwise be confidential?
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 2:33, Mr. Dale's letter here says, quote "I contacted Arnie after reading his response to a letter I wrote, and he agreed to work on this case." Ben Dale isn't the family, just an upset friend of the victim. Of course Dale's anger and involvement is reasonable given the situation, but it is still a misrepresentation by Arnie Klein to say the family contacted him initially. I understand why Klein would do it--it sounds better and plays into his narrative of "fighting for the family and justice", but that doesn't mean it's true.
ReplyDeleteFOR CRYING OUT LOUD, 2:33.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any idea the conditions she is working under?
Fire her? For trying to get the job done under impossible conditions? For trying to help hold the place together?
Hardly Rose, impossible conditions yes, for trying to hold the place together, not hardly. If anyone deserves that credit, it goes to Kelly Neel, the Assistant District Attorney. And there very easily could be a personnel action for the unauthorized release of information, however, Paul is not going to take action against his personal choice to follow him into office, now is he?
ReplyDeleteMike, since you are here to comment, how do you regard Maggie's decision not to accept the job of ADA when it was offered to her?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that she didn't even bother trying to improve the office when she had the chance. Paul went to her and offered her the job. She could have set her terms to include implementing any of the changes on which she is now campaigning. I doubt PVG would have objected.
I like Maggie personally and would not dispute the fact that she is a competent attorney but her decision to cut and run just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Mike Losey, you, your candidate and Maggie's campaign need to worry about filing your campaign forms on time; the fact that your HCDCC big dog endorsers did not sway the genuine Democrats last night and this is not Fortuna City Council where you get to huff n puff and bully your way into winning the DA's race.
ReplyDeleteAnswer about your own shennigans first before questioning others.
I would be happy with either Elan or Allan as DA. Maggie the green prosecutor is not getting this Sohum voter.
Clearly, 408, you never worked for PVG. His office, his way. Look at the turnover he has had. The idea, that his employees "owed" the county continued service is ridiculous. More to the point, the county elected PVG. So when the elected wants it one way, and the employee wants it another, the employee has to go. Again. look at the turnover. It's astonishing, unprecedented.
ReplyDeleteI would guess she was fed up with enabling him. 4:08
ReplyDeleteAnon 408 yes she was offered the job but it would have been fruitless since Paul would have overturned any decisions which could have improved relations both in and out of the office. Look, Wes Keat tried when he was first appointed as the ADA, but after he was turned down and stepped on so many times, he stopped trying and went along with Paul's program. Maggie knew any attempt to make the necessary changes would have been met with a negative response from Paul. Maggie continued her positive attitude toward her work and was never demeaning toward Paul. She tried cases, trained new attorneys, and managed the DA units with the same professionalism she will bring to the office now. I've worked with all of the candidates and I can tell you that she is THE one who can bring meaningful change to the DA's office. Think about it, since you did not have the experience of having worked in that office.
ReplyDeleteWhew! Ya'll are hot today!
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:22 where you thought she was going to get the HCDCC endorsement must be a huge disappointment to you since you cannot use that against her. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn't. With you she can't win. Read my post at 5:05 and you might learn something, but then again, I doubt it!
ReplyDeleteUp until the actual vote, it was a safe assumption Maggie had a lock on the HCDCC endorsement. The fact she didn't even get 50% of the vote was a rude wake up call for her campaign.
ReplyDeleteHear Hear
DeleteMike Losey I do not need to read anything again. I have heard enough on this blog from you.
ReplyDeleteI want Maggie to own up to her mistakes. I want Arnie to own up to his mistakes.
Elan has done that so has Allan. On the blogs, more often than not it is Maggie and Arnie supporters.
Allan gave a speech yesterday at HCDCC that impressed many. Maggie read from a script as she does most of the time.
I want a DA who speaks from the cuff and someone who does not play it safe.
This election is not about Paul. That tactic is just as lame as the Terry Farmer one against Maggie or the state bar against Allan.
None of these candidates are perfect. I prefer truth. If Maggie cannot speak up like other candidates do, who will be running her office? You. Or one of her other supporters.
Your bias is obvious. The trolls you mention are Maggie and Arnie trolls who make every thread personal. Klein has no campaign other than attacking Elan and her supporters. The truth about Maggie is coming out and Maggie supporters are unraveling.
DeleteWhere were you anonymous when Elan, Allan and personal comments about their supporters were being made.
Hypocrite. If you cared so much about the Ferrer case then show that concern before the election.
Elan has prosecuted many cases you just want Ferrer in the forefront because your candidate is failing.
Your own comment is hijacking this thread. Ferrer was politicized and still is by Arnie Klein.
You do not get to censor Rose's blog because you support a losing campaign.
On June 3rd comments will not matter, votes will. We will see then what worked and what failed.
Ahh there he is. Stomping his feet and insisting other people do as commanded. I'm annonoumsly stomping my feet and commanding people, which according to some people means you don't matter. So anon at 6:03. You...don't.......matter.
ReplyDeleteAhh there you are paid troll back as anonymous with insults.
DeleteYour imagination is wild. Can you at least come up with new insults. These are getting boring and overused.
The HCDCC did the right thing. Declined to endorse one democrat over another, and endorsed the one dem candidate in her respective race.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:03 oh good lord, you ask for the truth, "you can't handle the truth"! The truth is, there is only one person who will be running the DA's office when Maggie is elected and that is Maggie. You haven't been paying attention to the truth so far, so why start now, right? You don't want to read anything again as you say, so good luck with your candidate!
ReplyDeleteElan's trolls are at it again, changing the topic. Take it from the top---Elan made the Ferrer case about politics, not Klein.
ReplyDeleteRose, I know you favor open debate, but debates have rules. If people can't respond to the thread's topic, and stick to the topic, their comments do not belong, and should be removed. You see this over and over again. Topics/threads/issues get hijacked. It should stop.
Jim, the only people saying that Maggie was a shoe-in for the HCDCC vote were her opponents. They were chiding her because "they thought" she was assured the vote. She never "thought nor said" she was a shoe-in, but now you among others are ridiculing her for not getting that vote. Either way Jim, in politics there is no rude wake up call, only the morning after!
ReplyDeleteActually not, Mike. Heard from many on her team that the endorsement was a lock. And without her 3 x 5 cards, she never says anything, at least nothing that hasn't been prepared for her in advance. As to ridiculing her, accuse someone else, not me. With her money and list of supporters, the fact she didn't get the endorsement is a huge embarrassment. As to "rude wake up call" or "morning after" or to be more quaint "slap up side the head," Maggie was stunned last night - an observation which I got from more than one source. So Mike, go back to playing in the Fortuna sandbox with the other amateurs and leave county politics to the professionals.
ReplyDeleteJim, Jim, Jim, you think you know so much, the morning after is how you will be feeling. I guarantee you, she was not "stunned" as you put it. You would like to think she was, and the sources you got that from, were from your own folks. As for Fortuna, well our sandbox is ours, you don't even have one, so yours is in the dirt which is where you belong! In The Dirt!
ReplyDeleteMike, can you spell delusional?
ReplyDeleteElan has tried 21 cases, lost or hung 5, which is a lame percentage for a proscutor and, according to Arcata officers, given away bunches of cases. Her nickname in court is "submitted" because that's what she does, submits when asked by the court for input. She refuses to produce a resume providing an actual work history. She claims Humboldt should have 20 prosecutors which is more than Napa has so good luck finding the money for salaries, benefits, offices, pensions, computers, etc etc. So, if Humboldt wants her, Humboldt can have her.
ReplyDeleteWho does Rose support?
ReplyDeleteI support Maggie Fleming for DA because I think she is the best choice for the position. I actually know Maggie Fleming. I've actually worked with her. She is truly an outstanding prosecutor and an even better person.
ReplyDeletePretty simple math actually. Dollison has consistently claimed he is a liberal. He earned those DCC votes. Meanwhile Losey and Cardoza have been running around touting Fleming as the anti-Paul candidate and associating Firpo with Paul. I believe Firpo probably accounts for the 8 no endorse votes, thanks to Losey and Cardoza. They gave Firpo Paul's endorsement, even though he hasn't given it himself. Kathleen, to her credit has been the only smart Fleming supporter, touting Fleming's liberal credentials all along. The more Fleming wants to push law enforcement, anti-Paul, crony nonsense the more her support will slip away.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 8:20 a.m. could be a lawyer or someone from the D.A's office that personally has an issue with Elan Firpo and supports either Maggie Fleming or Arnie Klein.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 1:26 a.m. is either a lawyer or a liberal Democrat who has no clue about who is respected in the courthouse or what people think of Max Cardoza, Mike Losey and Kathleen Bryson out in the community.
He or she just hates Max Cardoza and Mike Losey because he or she thinks they are conservative and likes Kathleen Bryson because he or she thinks Kathleen Bryson is liberal.
My bet though is on this being Salzman or one of his paid blogger cronies because I have heard that he is pissed at Elan Firpo refusing his help with her campaign and is courting one of the other District Attorney candidates.
At least Kathleen Bryson, Max Cardoza and Mike Losey are loyal to their candidates.
Anon 4:04 you are right, with good insight, the only correction I would make is "loyal to their candidate". Otherwise an excellent post!
ReplyDeleteMike Losey thank you. The extra s was a typo.
ReplyDeleteBut I am sure you have been loyal to other candidates you support so I figured I would let the typo be.
Wow...I do not know what to say. Thanks everyone for not saying mean things about me on this blog. lol
ReplyDeleteBefore I started helping Maggie on her campaign, I just knew her as the best prosecutor, the most organized, and the most unflappable in the DA's office. Then I became a defense counsel, and I was impressed with her firm, yet fair, approach to cases.
However, once I got to speak with her on the "campaign trail," I was happily surprised by her being more left of center than I could have hoped. I have never seen anyone, at least in this county, who has law enforcement's devotion yet cares - so very much - about the individual. She also cares for the families of the accused who are victims of their son's or daughter's drug habit and all the havoc that it creates. She has actual plans to get grant money to address mental health and substance abuse while maintaining and increasing public safety.
No doubt that I will have to raise my game in the courtroom once she is our DA, but it will be worth it. We may even feel safe again in our own homes.
First off to Anon 4:43. You are correct, my family and I have been very loyal to a previous supervisor candidate. Would I endorse that same Supervisor candidate again yes, because of our family relationship. However, the winner of that Supervisor's race has turned out to be an excellent representative for Fortuna. But your statement, now that I understand it, is correct for the "s". Thanks for the clarification and the excellent post. As for the remainder of your statement, I am a lifelong republican voter, but I vote for the person, not for the party. I would hope my fellow republicans would also vote for the best person for the position of District Attorney for Humboldt County, who would be Maggie Fleming.
ReplyDeleteMike Losey more people should vote for the person and not the party.
DeleteThank you for sharing.
..and anon @4:04pm, must be a firpo troll aka maybe john chiv.
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to today's debate, it's clear that Fleming is plenty left of center. She defended Paul right and left. Besides being a libertarian, Firpo was the only candidate who criticized Paul and his policies.
ReplyDeleteor anon @ 4:04 could be a Salzman paid blogger or a paid troll from Arnie's campaign or one of those lawyers or candidate supporters exposed on Chiv's blog.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can pretend to be anyone anon @9:39.
Besides obsessing on John Chiv and Elan Firpo do you have a life?
While you are blogging away thinking you are affecting the DA's race, actual candidates and supporters are engaging voters.
Stick to the topic of the thread.
Now didn't Klein say the family contacted him?
Watch the Klein campaign evade that question and respond with another personal jab at Chiv or Firpo.
It is a NON-PARTISAN race, people.
ReplyDeletePrecisely BECAUSE you ARE supposed to break your party line habit. 7:01 is right - the PERSON not the party.
But it's not like you haven't had all dems running in the past is it? It's just that anyone who wasn't yours got called right wing, got called a Republican stalking horse, and worse. It is sickening. All over a box on a registration form.
Sorry Rose. This is partisan. Paul's ideology drove the lumber lawsuit and many other policies. Firpo is the only candidate who has publically come out against the suit and the agenda. You may not care, but I do.
ReplyDeleteFirpo supported by Green Diamond, Redwood Lumber, Britt Lumber, Arcata Forrest products, Barnum timber and a bunch if other businesses. Maggie is supported by and host of lawyers and law enforcement. Firpos platform of being pro business and anti crony matters even in a DA race
ReplyDeleteWell. That's pretty goddam funny, 9:36. To suggest that I don't care.
ReplyDeleteI'm just gonna go with - you're new here. I suggest you look back at the origins of this blog.
Your points are well taken. But it has nothing to do with Dem/Republican.
Paul represented radical destructive activists against the community. For the criminals and against the rest. I don't know what party that is. Though it was tightly wrapped in Green, I hesitate to even smear the Greens with his brand of BS.
Somewhat new, but all I've seen is how party doesn't matter. All I know is the Democrats were squarely line up for him and the Republicans against. It was quite partisan. He and the Democrats are anti-business ideologues. That office controls policy on pot, the environment and business practice. I'm done with Democrats controlling the DAs office. Rose -I'm not sure how you don't see that!
DeleteAnon 9:36 I do agree with you about Paul's ideology driving the lawsuit and the issues that arose from that bad decision.
ReplyDeleteI support Elan; she is her own person.
You are wrong about Rose. She has maintained this blog which is the only consistent source of information o the District Attorney's race, especially the Paul years.
Anon 9:43 even though I am an Elan supporter, your comment characterizing both Maggie and Elan's support selectively is not fair to either candidate. They both have a wide variety of supporters.
If you want to raise the concern about Maggie's law enforcement supporters or Elan's business supporters that is fine, but do not make it sound like that is the only support they have.
I have raised similar concerns about candidates but I use my name. So does Rose. So does Mike Losey. So does Kathleen Bryson.
And every single one of us has had personal remarks directed at us because of using our names unrelated to the campaign.
I do not have a problem with anonymous comments; I do have a problem when it is used and in this race has been used mostly by certain people and 1 campaign for personal attacks and never stating facts or responding to questions.
If you want cronyism, lets us start listing and discussing supporters of other DA candidates. Financial support and endorsers are not the only way someone benefits from having someone elected in office.
So anon, care to state your name or will we have the usual deflect and attack tactic?
I switched my support to Elan after hearing the recent debate and listening to Linda Atkins sell Fleming as a true liberal. I own a business and have something to lose by using my name, so I will not. You can choose to ignore my comment. The Dems have had a stranglehold on this county and we have a shot of getting a pro-property rights, pro gun owner rights Libertarian in there, I am going to advocate for Firpo. And again Rose. If you don't think that stuff matters in the DAs office, I don't know what to say.
ReplyDeleteYou make your point anon about your business and not wanting to use your name and that is fine but there are supporters like me and others who also have our own businesses and we use our name.
ReplyDeletePeople want a lot but don't want to risk anything or take responsibility.
In Humboldt, most business owners use that excuse. So I commend those whether in business or public sector that use their names.
Both the anons above, you seem like reasonable people, however you are new to blogs. There used to be civil discussion. It has deteriorated over the years largely due to anonymity.
Do a little research before you put people in boxes, especially Rose. A party label does not mean people all think alike on every issue.
I am a Republican but I do not have the same opinion about all Democrats. You and I may agree on many things, but not all.
The DA race is a non-partisan race as is the Supervisors as is City Council.
That is what I like about Elan, she has attracted voters who are not just Democrats and Republicans but people who don't make this about polarizing issues.
You may be pro-gun, pro property rights but that is not Elan's stance so do not misrepresent her views if you are a true supporter.
Each person sees something they like in a candidate they support but that does not mean you pass off your views as Elan's views.
"He and the Democrats are anti-business ideologues. That office controls policy on pot, the environment and business practice. I'm done with Democrats controlling the DAs office. Rose -I'm not sure how you don't see that!"
ReplyDeleteActually, I do agree with that. and, the HCDCC acted more like a private PAC, treated lifelong Democrats Worth Dikeman and Allison Jackson like shit, and have absolutely zero moral high ground in this race. They put their hatred of Palco, anti-business endeavors and POT above the needs of children and DV victims.
I will never forgive what happened. ever. It's disgraceful.
That said - and one of the reasons I am staying out os this race is, I don't think it is necessarily fair to taint these candidates with what has gone before.
"After listening to today's debate, it's clear that Fleming is plenty left of center. She defended Paul right and left. Besides being a libertarian, Firpo was the only candidate who criticized Paul and his policies."
ReplyDeleteAnd this "
I switched my support to Elan after hearing the recent debate and listening to Linda Atkins sell Fleming as a true liberal. I own a business and have something to lose by using my name, so I will not. You can choose to ignore my comment. The Dems have had a stranglehold on this county and we have a shot of getting a pro-property rights, pro gun owner rights Libertarian in there, I am going to advocate for Firpo. And again Rose. If you don't think that stuff matters in the DAs office, I don't know what to say."
I love. This helps me to understand what is going on in the DA's race, and it is going on dispute Rose's best attempts to hide this.
It may be off topic, but just for a moment-- The DA's office?
ReplyDeleteMr. Klein and Ms. Fleming discuss how to run the office with an eye to the fact that, both in the past and the likely future, the office has been and will be underfunded and somewhat understaffed. Both would like to do more, and will seek to get more, but they both seem realistic.
On the other hand, Dollison says he wants 25 lawyers. Firpo wants 20. Sure, that will happen. For comparison, Napa county, which has a tad more of a tax base than Humboldt, has 18/19, not 20. Anyone could run the office if you could get 20-25 competent lawyers to do all the work, but really, where is Humboldt going to get the money for them, year after year, plus benefits, pensions, equipment, offices, support staff? It's just not realistic to pitch those numbers and it's just not being honest with the voters. Vague talk about grants, secret plans, and heroic posing about facing down the supervisors, all remind me of Nixon's plan for getting us out of Cambodia.
I'm not sure what Rose is hiding. She hasn't shown any support Firpo that I can see. I'm pretty sure Maggie got a no confidence vote from DCC because she changes her story depending on whom she is talking to. It a shame that Atkins can't see the Forrest for the trees. Big old time republicans like Jerry Scott and Judge Brown are taking her around telling people she is a secret Republican. Point is that I'd prefer someone who takes a stand and sticks with it without pandering. Firpo is the only anti death penalty candidate. I totally disagree with her but I respect that she answered the question. Reasonable people will never agree on every subject, but I'll take someone with character who doesn't read talking points from a script all day long.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Élan is a civil liberties and constitutional rights candidate is going to piss off Republicans and Democrats. We'll see how many are willing to not tote the party lines. I could be wrong, but I don't think any party insider in either party will be happy with Élan. Dems won't like her on property rights and cons won't like her on free speech issues or fighting crony machinery. If we say that both Maggie and Élan are qualified, this is very much about ideology. Question is what does the county want. Party control (either party) or an independent DA willing to give up votes and not cave to the machinery. So is Liberal Jon part of the Dem party machine or a free thinker?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:41 and anon 2:00 nailed it!
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:28 Arnie Klein is no Maggie Fleming.
I am considering either Maggie Fleming or Elan Firpo. Both have certain strengths.
1:28. Just FYI. When Gallegos came into office, there were 19 prosecutors in the DAs office. The fact we're down to 10 on a good day says how far we've fallen.
ReplyDeleteBack to the topic. In this letter Ben Dale said he put Klein in touch with the family.
ReplyDeleteIn this Times-Standard article,
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_25302479/family-slain-arcata-chef-challenge-plea-deal-several,
Klein said the family contacted him.
It is not semantics. One of them is lying. The case was politicized by one person and it is not Elan Firpo.
Did you ever think Ben contacted Klein first and then contacted the family and then they contacted Klein? Not everything is a conspearacy.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:28 no because it is not a conspiracy theory, but nice try.
ReplyDeleteKlein and his supporters are still politicizing this case.
MR. Ferguson, try naming those 19. If you can.
ReplyDeleteAsk Rose.
ReplyDeleteRose did not make the "fyi". You did. Either back it up, or . . . .
ReplyDeleteLosey...you have been a paul apologist for years. Many of us don't get your new anti paul pro Maggie stance since she has been protecting him for years. I am still deciding between Alan and elan but it definitely won't be for Fleming since she is only is the same old same old government pay me every two week drone.
ReplyDelete9:22: Until you post under your real name, I'll just assume you're a Gallegos troll. Go back to playing under a bridge somewhere.
ReplyDeleteNo point in reinventing the wheel.
ReplyDeleteTry this for a start -
Max Cardoza, Worth Dikeman, Rob Wade, Elizabeth Norton, Maggie Fleming, Jim Kucharek, Allen Woodworth, John Wright, Peter Martin, Gloria Albin, Allison Jackson, Eamon Fitzgerald, Wes Keat, Andrew Isaac, Nandor Vadas, Heather Gimie, Murat Ozgur, Frank Dunnick, Stacey Johnson, Paul Hagen...
They tried to tell you
”We don't have a problem with attorneys wanting to stay,” Gallegos wrote. “Most district attorney's offices, just like most large- and medium-sized law firms, experience and expect a certain amount of attrition.”
ReplyDeleteGallegos: Doing 'more with less'...TS...Chris Durant..1/18/06
Question, really, is "Who's left?" w/update - February 28, 2007
ReplyDeleteAdd them to the list of talent lost:
DDA Ed Borg
DDA Worth Dikeman
DDA Frank Dunnick
DDA Eamon Fitzgerald
DDA Heather Gimle
DDA Paul Hagen
DDA Nicole Hansen
DDA Shane Hauschild
DDA Andrew Isaac
DDA Allison Jackson
DDA Harry Kassakian
DDA Elizabeth Norton
DDA Murat Ozgur
Patrick Pekin
DDA Amanda Penny
DDA Gloria Albin-Sheets
DDA Tim Stoen
Jennifer Strona
DDA Andy Truitt
DDA Nandor Vadas
DDA Rob Wade
Bill Rodstrom
DDA Kelly Neel (left and came back)
Zach Bird
Jose Mendez
Jeff (yougofree.com) Schwartz
Arnie Klein
Allan Dollison
Mary McCarthy
Randy Mailman
Davina Smith
Kathleen Bryson
Ben McLaughlin
PLUS:
Investigator Chris Andrews
Investigator Chris Cook
Investigator Jim Dawson (retired)
Paul's secretary Gail Dias
Office Manager Linda Modell
Investigator Eric Olson
Investigator Kathy Philp (retired)
Investigator Dave Rybarczyk
Investigator Dave Walker
PLUS from CAST:
Child Interview Specialist Gillian Wadsworth
Child Interview Specialist Laura Todd
Senior Legal Secretary Melissa Arnold
Alternate Child Interviewer Jennifer Maguire
And that, my friends, is a PARTIAL LIST of the people Gallegos has 'lost' fired or driven off.
Fun factoid: The "Lost," fired or driven off" phrase was coined by Hank Sims, in one of his pieces on the DAs race, one of them.
ReplyDeleteIt's not as if this hasn't been crystal clear to the people who bring you the news.
Jim... go to hell. I am never going to do that. Been there done that. L I see and Fleming are the problem and not the solution. As I said my two are Alan and elan. If you don't like it tough. Annie is useless and Fleming is dishonest.
ReplyDeleteFactless allegations from anonymous posters tend to be self-refuting.
ReplyDeleteFleming vehemently defended Paul's management of the office in the most recent debate. That is fact. Dollison and Élan talked about the need for major changes while Fleming kept repeating how many trials she has done and how long she has been part of the institution.
ReplyDeleteFleming collected her weekly check and did Gallegos' bidding and enabled his destruction of that office. I'll be dammed rather than vote for her.
ReplyDeleteBoth of the immediately preceding posts are easily rebutted by
ReplyDelete1) actually listening to or attending any debate, including the one on the radio;
2) Talking to anyone in the courthouse, like, say, a judge, a bailiff, a court reporter. Oh, wait, three retired judges already endorsed Fleming.
It must be frustrating, dealing with a person of 25 years experience and a stainless character, leaving nothing to attack with except vague allegations and absolutely no facts. As for facilitating Paul, his most enthusiastic apologist has been Firpo. Check out her posts the Jennings bicyclist case:
Elan Firpo, Ukiah Daily Journal 05/30/2010 01:21:26 AM PDT
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_15193391?IADID=Search-www.ukiahdailyjournal.com-www.ukiahdailyjournal.com
Additionally, I want to state that Paul is available to consult with us on our cases, and his guidance inevitably involves taking the higher road and doing the right thing, even when it isn't the easy thing to do. Our office is composed of extremely hard-working, dedicated personnel who take our jobs very seriously and personally. Paul personifies that dedication and is a role model for the rest of us.
And remember Firpo, Dollison and Klein all signed the "Vote for Paul, he walks on water" letter in 2010. Fleming did not.
It is reported that there were 17 deputies when Paul was elected and 13 deputies when Paul took office:
ReplyDeletedikeman, keat, cardoza, wade, fleming, jackson, hagen, bird, kassakian, isaac, eads, vadas, albin were there for his "I know it when I see it" disloyalty speech.
Fitzgerald, Dunnick, Ozgur and Norton left between the time he was elected and when he took office.
Vadas left shortly thereafter to become a federal magistrate.
Then began Paul's Time of Turnover, amply reported by Rose, during which at one deputy lasted less than 4 days and another less than a month. Of the deputies he had in 2010, only 4- Eads, MckImmy, Neel, and Firpo, are still there.
wasn't Gimle still there for a bit after PVG came in? So 18 when elected, 14 when he came in, dropped to 13, then he started hiring and firing?
ReplyDeleteAnon at. 9:17. It is you who should listen to the debate. Dollison and Firpo endorsed their boss when they were still new to the office. Fleming didn't work there at the time. She was too busy screwing the taxpayers over at County Counsel. 25 years of Maggie Farmer is plenty for most of us thankyouverymuch.
ReplyDeleteSorry Losey. Paul surfs and spends his time out of the office all day. Maggie Fleming had a chance to fix things and instead she took Fridays off, Paul style while Firpo and Dollison stuck with it and tried. Your candidate thought she could float back in and have an easy run with Terry Farmer's supporters and their money. Too bad she ran into some candidates with real principles and ideas.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:09 you don't know what your saying. Of course putting anything without facts out there is your style, and what do you say to a candidate who slings her deceased victim through the mud, now there's real principle for you. Check the Ca. Bar association for real principle, humm now those are facts, but that's not your style so you will ignore those issues, won't you?
ReplyDeleteBullshit losey. Just plain bullshit. Both you and Fleming enabled Gallegos for years and a lot of us are pissed the d's office is in disrepair thanks to you and Fleming who knew better but hid out to build your damn county pension instead of standing up for what was right. This will be far from a cake walk for any of these candidates who all have baggage. I think Fleming has too much for me as does Klein.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:30, still no facts, just talk, you really need to think about what you are saying when it comes to principles. Yes,I worked for Paul and during the time I was there, I did the best job I could. I worked hard on Worth Dikeman's campaign, to bring about real change but you continue on your fantasy. There was no enabling of Paul, by Maggie nor I,only doing our jobs to the best of our abilities. And she did an excellent job but not because it made the boss look good. People of principle do their job to the best of their abilities, regardless of the boss. They know they don't work for the DA, they work for The People like you and me!!! That's why I am voting for Maggie.
ReplyDeleteFace it Losey...you sold your principles so did Fleming. Nice spin trying to justify it as "working for the people." You AND Fleming worked for yourself, the pension and Gallegos and let the "people" suffer. Both of you are knew better and could have moved on to honorable jobs but chose not to because you didn't have the principles.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1:14 you don't make any sense, and you wouldn't know principle if it sits next to you. Oh well, there must be some anon's out there who aren't paid trolls, aren't there?
ReplyDeleteMike the facts are in Fleming's financial reporting. A mirror image of Terry Farmer's. Same old attorneys and judges. The facts are in her letter and testimony to the Dems. The facts are in Fleming's own words at the last debate. Wake up. Look at the cronies showing her around. Me very other candidate has come out against midnight release, the grant writing failures, staffing mess, and other sheriff policies except the candidate the SO gave $5000 of hush money. Those are the facts.
ReplyDeleteYes losey..a lot of just plain folk who don't appreciate people who sell their souls for a buck like Fleming and like you. Sorry you lack the comprehensive skills to grasp that concept
ReplyDeleteNot all anonymous comments are paid trolls or self refuting.
ReplyDeleteMike Losey how could you support Worth Dikeman and Paul Gallegos? We would have been lucky if Worth had been elected DA. Worth had integrity and experience.
As for your candidate, Maggie keeps silent while her supporters go after anyone who does not support her. She left the office rather than stay and fix it.
Allan Dollison's past record is something that happened nearly two decades ago and he has addressed this more than once publically.
To the anonymous who selectively brings up Elan Firpo's cases or says she is an apologist for Paul,
state your name because both Maggie Fleming and Arnie Klein have friends working in the DA's office right now and any lawyer or courthouse staff could post stuff or you could be one of those paid trolls. State your name because you are someone on the inside.
Klein and Fleming campaigns have done everything to trash Dollison
and Firpo and their supporters.
With less than two months before the primary, voters are getting wise and asking questions.
Where is the local media on the Sheriff's 2,500 donation to Maggie not being reported per FPPC rules? I don't see liberal jon or Julie Timmons raising a stink about those funds.
Where is the media questioning Arnie Klein's campaign on who contacted who in the Ferrer case.
Are we to believe family and friends who are emotionally involved in this case to speak against Klein?
Voters see who's misleading them or who is not.
Elan or Allan are resonating with voters and Maggie's campaign knows it.
Here's a fact. Maggie told two liberal supporters at Azalea Hall that Paul was likely to be supporting her soon. So is she lying or Losey? Mike?
ReplyDeleteYou are. She never said that. Post names,
ReplyDeleteliar.
You are. She never said that. Post names,
ReplyDeleteliar.
Oh yeah like Maggie has never dumped principles for a check. She is a paul apologist for over ten years and WILL NEVER get my vote.
ReplyDeleteLook. Maggie has told many people this. She also strongly inferred it on KMUD. Check the archives of her program a few weeks ago. She says whatever is expedient. She could have won this thing walking away, but she just can't tell the truth to save her life, and it's catching up with her. She'll still leading in votes at the primary, but Firpo or Dollison will make up ground as the real story comes out.
ReplyDeleteWow you Anon folks really need to step back, take a deep breath, and realize your pay isn't worth selling your souls. All along none of you believe strongly enough in what you spout, not enough to even put your names to it. My bet is you are one maybe two and no more. Good luck with spreading your hate message,it won't work!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that losey. I guess your pay and Ms Maggie 's pay was worth supporting Gallegos for so long. This isn't hate it's the cold hard truth and it rankles you. Tough. Your "candidate" has got a lot to answer for supporting Gags for so long. If you think she has the conservative vote you are mistaken.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:30 today said "This will be far from a cake walk for any of these candidates who all have baggage. I think Fleming has too much for me as does Klein."
ReplyDeleteBingo!
I worked with Maggie Fleming, Wes Keat, Elan Firpo, and Mike Losey.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of candidate, politics, or party, I can say that I never observed anything but professionalism on their parts.
No one can argue that Maggie was not a very good prosecutor.
No one can argue that Wes ran the office, got people where they needed to be, approved search warrants, did the charging, counseled, etc.
Mike Losey and I worked on several cases together, and I never found him to be anything but willing to go out in the field, talk to witnesses, etc.
Simply because these folk's career paths overlapped with PVG's tenure does not mean they somehow enabled PVG, lost their knowledge and experience, or became ambivalent to the issues faced by the community and law enforcement.
Guess what I'm saying is that good people worked at the office both before and after Paul was elected. That they stayed/came doesn't somehow mean they are now bad, or freeloaders, or enablers...
And, there are people who still work at the DA Office who are good people and prosecutors, including Elan, who care about what they do.
Guess my point is: The "enabling" card is played out. People can still like their jobs and try to be effective, regardless of who they work for.
That's just my $0.10.
Ben McLaughlin
Sorry. Should have proofed before submitting. But, I think my point is clear...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the horse is dead yet?
ReplyDeleteWas hoping to kill it.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, people have to realize that the DA's Office employees are big boys and girls. They all know which each election, that they may have a new "boss."
ReplyDeleteIt should not affect their working life While there may be a period of adjustment, all DDAs are prepared at any given time to work WITH the new DA.
That WAS ALSO the case way back when, when Gallegos came into office - ALL of those seasoned professionals were fully prepared to work with Gallegos. Even to teach him the ropes, knowing his own inexperience. They were professionals.
Paul is the one who came in with the Us v them mentality - Salzman is the one who said "We have a mole in the office, leaking stories to the Times Standard." (For which I always ask you, what, pray tell, did he have to hide just a month or two into office?) But that's another story.
It isn't Maggie's fault that Paul was bad. She did her job.
Just as the current DDAs will have to do with the new DA, whoever it is.
Was a time under Paul, there was a really good office in place. Problem is, he didn't want that.
ReplyDeleteRoss
ReplyDeleteBockelman
Keat
Fleming
Cardoza
Neel
Nims
Brownfield
Firpo
McLaughlin (me)
McKimmy
Klein
Would have put that office against any, on a per capita basis..,
Ben you must be high. You came as a prepackaged defense attorney from del Norte went total melt down (after being found by an appellate court for prosecutor malfeasance) then bailed. You wouldn't know a bad office from dirt. Your list above is a total laugh....actually a total cry. Total screw ups and majorly incompetent ....all of them.
ReplyDeleteReally? I was a prosecutor in Del Norte. Don't know about malfeasance. Guess you'd have to ask the defense bar about my ethics. Or, you could just check my bar page.
ReplyDeleteYou're borderline illiterate.
Better yet, because there was an appellate action against me, there must be a citation. Please, provide citation.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Rose, this thread wins the watch paul award for being about watch Paul.
ReplyDeleteFound this by google.
ReplyDeleteOur story begins with a routine DUI arrest in Ferndale and ends almost two years later with a California court of appeal tossing the case after finding that DA Investigator Wayne Cox and Deputy DAs Ben McLaughlin and Randy Mailman committed prosecutorial misconduct and violated the defendant’s constitutional rights.
A subsequent opinion upheld these findings and added Assistant DA Wes Keat–the number-two guy in Gags’ office–to the list of perpetrators.
Go team!!
The appellant, Rocky Crowl, was arrested in Ferndale in 2009 for allegedly driving under the influence. At the time of the arrest, the defendant and his two alleged passengers–Rocky’s girlfriend, named Jessica Sneed, and Rocky’s cousin Christopher Crowl who bore a “ballpark” resemblance to Rocky, according to court records–were out of the vehicle, and it was unclear which Crowl had actually been driving. Was it the drunk Rocky or the sober Christopher?
Sneed and Christopher didn’t help the prosecution’s case a bit when both testified at the preliminary hearing that it had been Christopher, not Rocky, behind the wheel. But this setback was only temporary, because the resourceful men and women from the DA’s Office had a solution: Tell the witnesses that if they testify at trial you’ll throw them in prison for perjury–or, to use the formal term for that activity, intimidate the shit out of the witnesses.
Cox had them arrested (over a 3-day weekend) and both charged with felony perjury and being an accessory to a felony. And then, maybe just because some things never change, McLaughlin offered them a deal in exchange for guilty pleas. Both refused.
Just how unusual was it to arrest and charge defense witnesses with perjury? The trial judge said that in 12 years on the bench, he’d never seen anything quite like it. According to the appellate decision,
We need not ignore the clear inference that the nearly unheard of conduct by the prosecution in this case was designed to intimidate these witnesses and keep them from testifying for defendant.
The court concluded
that the evidence in the record supports the trial court’s finding that the prosecution’s unnecessary urgency in arresting, forcefully interrogating, and filing perjury and accessory after the fact charges against Sneed and Christopher resulted in effectively precluding these previously willing defense witnesses from testifying at defendant’s trial. This was misconduct.
The court notified the California State Bar of its findings of misconduct by McLaughlin, Mailman and Keat.
Oh, and it also affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the DUI case on the ground that the prosecution violated the defendant’s constitutional right to due process by intimidating defense witnesses.
http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20CACO%2020110329004
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Is that the same Wes Keat that gave Maggie Fleming $1,500 in her most recent election filing, even though he lives 800 miles away? Is that the same Wes Keat who was hired by Terry Farmer? Is that the same Wes Keat who abandoned the office in 2011 (just like Maggie Fleming) and is now hoping to come back? Maggie Fleming = Terry Farmer Redux. You know what they say about sequels. They are always worse than the original.
ReplyDeleteThe same Wes Keat that kept Paul Gallegos afloat, and when, after a long career in public service, Wes retired, Paul has declined to run again. 823,( or should I just say, "Richard") you are silly and pathetic.
ReplyDeleteYes...it's the same Wes Keat who kept Gallegos going and covered up Gallegos ' s incompetence propping him up and screwing us over for years. He and Fleming are two of the same but I seriously doubt he'd ever come back here. He's collecting a good pension somewhere in southern California. Maybe Mclaughlin thinks he will get rehired? What's horrible is that Cox who was part of the misconduct is now the lead investigator promoted by the corrupt Gallegos. Man is that office a train wreck.
ReplyDeleteWTF is up with the ridiculous Farmer and good old boy boogieman thing? Just what is that supposed to mean? Is Pacific Lumber coming back? Tree sitters? What?
ReplyDeleteFleming worked for Gallegos longer than she did for Farmer. So PVG seems not to have had a problem with her.
And if the office is a train wreck, you can hardly blame people for leaving.
Just keep throwing vague, unsupported mudballs, children, if that's what makes you happy. I suppose it's easier than finding excuses for the manifest shortcomings of the other candidates.
Just a question to the lawyers who use their names and others who are so in the know now
ReplyDeletejumping on the let us trash Paul bandwagon.
Where were your so called concerns when you were making money off the criticisms you seem to be outraged about?
I am not defending Paul but many of you have made money off the same policies you criticize and make money off a system where criminals can pay their way.
At least I tell Paul or any one else what I think to their face. Rose had this blog for years saying what you have the guts to say now.
I am sure I will get flack from anonymous comments from the above group.
Ben McLaughlin made a valid point.
Also, Paul is not running. So do you have any factual comments about this thread or are we going to continue the cowardly anonymous or signed character assasinations from people who can dish it out but cant take it.
What's up with John Chiv attacking those "lawyers" (how do we know who they are as they are anonymous) who looked the other way and benefitted from Paul's policies...aren't you describing your precious Firpo to a tee? She is benefitting from his policies and his political contacts and has been looking the other way the whole time she has been his prosecutor (which is 5 years in total and the only real attorney job she has ever had).
ReplyDeleteDidn't she announce to people in the DA's office that she was Paul's chosen successor just last Summer? By Fall, she was pitching the right wing that she can't stand her boss and can she please please have money so that she can defeat Klein. She needs to make up her mind.
This whole race has been twisted into Bizarro Land. Talk from one part of your mouth, Firpo. People are getting sick of the double talk. She is Paul's girl and no friend to business...business people in Humboldt need someone who knows the law and can enforce it. You know so that we have a county that people will actually WANT to spend their money in.. She's not there yet...not by anyone's standards.
No she is there. That is why you attack her constantly.
DeleteWhat was with Fleming last night in orick? Can't imagine why she denied being in the d a's office when asked about the horrible prosecution that closed the eureka inn. Then she defended that unjust prosecution instead of explaining why they didn't let the owners declare bankruptcy. Wtf?
ReplyDelete647 is making it up. Again.
ReplyDeleteNo...that is what happened. Rose you were there can you enlighten 6:56? Her response didn't make sense to me. Sorry you don't like it 656 but that is what was said.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 5:36 you are as stated many times on this blog by few 1. one of those lawyers 2. a Maggie or Arnie supporter who has no clue and always personally attack and 3. definitely someone personally envious of Chiv.
ReplyDeleteAs to your allegations about Elan 1. anonymous comments like yours have no effect when they get stated over and over 2. Travis Tritt sang, here's a quarter call someone who cares.
716- I am sure the "it did not make sense to me " part is true. The rest, not so much. Play me a tape, or stfu.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Rockey Crowl case. I essentially had nothing to do with it, aside from agreeing to take the trial bc Randy Mailman was ill. Glenn Brown filed a motion to dismiss for misconduct. I did a written opposition. The Judge ruled against the DAO. I sent a Notice of Appeal. Court of Appeal said it couldn't overrule Cissna's decision. It was referred to the State Bar. I was immediately cleared.
ReplyDeleteThought you meant something else. Sorry.
Ben
. From what I read the judge's all said you committed prosecutorial misconduct. Their finding not anyone else's. You forgot that? Seems unlikely.
DeleteDon't care to be re-hired.
ReplyDeleteJust trying to make the point that good people work/ed there vis-a-vis PVG. That's all.
Welcome, Ben. I guess I should post a warning sign... woe to all ye who enter here....
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing when a team bonds. It's also funny because you're starting to see that camaraderie surface between the candidates as they meet up at each venue - they're former co-workers, now jousting partners, but they're also part of a unique fraternity now, candidates who have run the gauntlet of fire.
And - whether you liked Terry Farmer or hated him, he had both - he built a team of amazing prosecutors. You would have loved them.
All the prosecutors - then and now - share a love of what they do. It came out in this campaign most clearly in the Mad River Union Forum, which you can listen to. When they were able to ask each other questions, and they answered, revealing their pride in their work. Maggie was asked why she left, and her answer is very poignant in this light. Listen and you will see.
These people - the working prosecutors - are by and large not political people, they just want to do their job, and they deserve our respect and our thanks. Those still in there - and those who left. Take a moment tomorrow to thank them when you see them.
Now c'mon Rose, warning?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it loads of fun to debate some people, usually anons, who don't have a clue but spend all day frothing on the screen getting the next comment fix.
You should start charging some of these bozos for their daily consumption and donate all the money to "get out of town Salzman fund".
LOL, yes, it can be fun, and while the comments threads are sometimes toxic, it's a little bit like you open the door to a room, and all the people inside are engaged in a giant pillow fight. And you yell, "HEY!!" And they all stop, and look at you for a minute, and then turn right back to bashing on the guy next to them.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun, it's crazy. It's mean. And sometimes, it's even informative.
@ 9:16
ReplyDeletePlease brush up on reading comprehension. The judge said the DAO committed misconduct, well before I entered the case. I took the case, because I wanted to help a co-worker.
I suspect the letters sent by Glenn Brown and David Lee to the State Bar were meant to disguise my misconduct? Don't be an idiot. I know, it's challenging for you, but try...
What I didn't know at the time was that, if you appeal a finding of misconduct, it's automatically referred to the State Bar.
My exact words to Judge Cissna were: "If the Office did something wrong, I want to know..." Context was that the defendant offered to plead for probation. He didn't deserve probation, so I declined.
The ruling was, what the ruling was.
Please get your facts straight before implying that I committed misconduct. In my line of work, that's pretty serious.
Good day, sir/madam
The appellate courts exact words were that you committed prosecutorial misconduct. It was you the appellate court med and your name that they lodged the complaint. Your response is so paul like....
ReplyDeleteThat's "named" not "med".
ReplyDeleteAnd should I link to the complaint which is numbered and names you? Move on now. Just move on.
Sure. Go ahead.
ReplyDeleteYou realize there was not a finding of misconduct, right? Or, you just don't care to understand.
Don't much care for Paul. But I certainly didn't leave his office because of a non-finding of misconduct.
I'll leave it to you to debate with yourself.
Also, you're dumb. You understand, right, that I had nothing to do with the conduct that led to the motion to dismiss re misconduct, right? Probably, you don't.
ReplyDeleteThis site is awesome, by the way.
ReplyDeleteLeft the office because I do not care for Paul. That's it. Nothing else to see here.
Sorry to disappoint. Unfortunate, in some circles, that I'm apparently not unethical.
What Mr. McLaughlin is saying is absolutely correct. He took the proverbial bullet for the office on this one, and it was the correct decision that he was cleared. He never did anything wrong. Later on, the appellate decision was amended and he was completely cleared. However what is interesting is that the prosecutorial misconduct complaints with the State Bar did go forward against absolutely who they should have, which was Mr. Wes Keat and Ms. Randy Mailman. Those were the ones who were really culpable and at fault. Hmmn, they are both endorsing Maggie Fleming. One gave $1,500 to her, so he could keep his job charging drug cases for the office.
ReplyDeleteIt's very simple. Bonnie Neely has been introducing Maggie Fleming around and introducing her to the "Old Guard" and garnering their support. Maggie has made this race polarized by constantly invoking Paul's support for Firpo and running to Old Guard Ds and Rs for support. Fleming decided that the Old Guard, law enforcement, antiI-Paul meme would be her platform. Now if Paul endorses Firpo, then Fleming will get the battle royale she so desires. Enter Salzman and the green youth movement to defend Paul's honor via Firpo. Fleming has no one to blame but herself for the meme. She should have jettisoned Bonnie Neely as soon as Bonnie offered to "help".
ReplyDeleteAnd, some 140 comments later, the Firpo side is still stuck with a plastic candidate who graduated law school 5 years ago, whose last job before law school was for a company called "Doggy Duty" [you figure it out], who has done about 20 trials and lost or hung 20 percent of those, who won't post a real resume, has yet to try and win a murder case, who hides her linked in page and all the work history she can. Oh, by the way, where was she on Tuesday, when a misdemeanor deputy was picking the Bodhi Tree jury for her? Look, over there, it's Terry Farmer!!!Agggh!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, are your her boss? No. So Elan does not owe you answers why she was not there on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are anonymous. So state your name. Unless you are affected by the case, what business is it of yours whether someone else covered for her that day or not.
Has no other candidate ever taken the day off? Has no other DDA have someone cover for them on a case?
That day the only people in the courtroom were the attorneys, the court staff, the judge, prospective jurors and myself.
I doubt that you are any of the above mentioned. You are someone who supports another candidate; you are someone who either works in the DA's office or in the courthouse and therefore would notice that Jackie subbed for Elan.
Your personal insult of Ms. Pizzo's ability and Elan and personal nature of your comments are very telling of your motivation and agenda. Get off your high horse. State your name and then everyone on this blog can proceed to dissect your work history and character.
I don't think you have the guts.
And the latter applies to all anonymous comments directed at anyone on this blog. Don't hide behind the "I have something to lose". If you want to make unfounded accusations, sign your name.
I'll take Firpo anytime over Fleming, for no other reason than Fleming's group of anonymous trolls. She is either not competent to manage her campaign or dishonest at her core. I believe it is the second thing. Anything to win seems to be Flemings motto.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSo, Mr. Chiv, you knew Ms. Firpo blew off jury selection in her very first murder case. And yet did not share this with the public. The public is her boss, and the public deserves to know. Except, of course, when you decide otherwise.
Your objectivity is . . . . selective. See, that's a funny pun. Jury selection, selective reporting.
Tell us more about what you know of Elan's work history. Selectively, of course.
Rhett August no show, Chiv reports.
ReplyDeleteElan Firpo, no show, Chiv . . . . crickets.
Oh, somebody's pants are down and a spanking HAS been administered.
Chiv, it is important because Firpo is announcing that she is missing meetings and debates because she is picking a jury in a double murder case. This becomes a problem when she has a stand-in for jury selection and misses the meetings and debates?? Why the lies?? You should be investigating that not defending her, but providing answers because that is what you claim to do provide information!
ReplyDeleteMike since you are the only one who used your name, I will respond to you.
DeleteAs I mentioned, none of you are her boss. She owes you no explainations. She missed 1 debate in Orick, not debates.
I responded to a comment here that was inaccurate. Mike when you are ready to explain Maggie's FPPC late filings or her meeting endorsers often during her workday, then you get to question me.
I am a supporter, not her campaign manager or the candidate. Feel free to ask them.
There are going through hardship questions, and general jury selection is not happening.
To the commenter who made the comments about crickets. Not very smart to use it in person with me several times and then on the blog.
You are a pathetic coward to comment anonymously. But then lying behing people's back is your style.
To the rest of you, I am not going to monitor a blog all day responding to baseless and personal attacks.
I owe you nothing. Nor does your opinion matter to me. Most of you have done nothing selfless or for free for your community.
Mike since you are the only one who used your name, I will respond to you.
DeleteAs I mentioned, none of you are her boss. She owes you no explainations. She missed 1 debate in Orick, not debates.
I responded to a comment here that was inaccurate. Mike when you are ready to explain Maggie's FPPC late filings or her meeting endorsers often during her workday, then you get to question me.
I am a supporter, not her campaign manager or the candidate. Feel free to ask them.
There are going through hardship questions, and general jury selection is not happening.
To the commenter who made the comments about crickets. Not very smart to use it in person with me several times and then on the blog.
You are a pathetic coward to comment anonymously. But then lying behing people's back is your style.
To the rest of you, I am not going to monitor a blog all day responding to baseless and personal attacks.
I owe you nothing. Nor does your opinion matter to me. Most of you have done nothing selfless or for free for your community.
Hahahahahahahahahaha. That from a Fleming supporter. Now working 2 days a week at County Counsel. Hard to tell where is doing more damage though! The same Fleming who Allison Jackson gave a beat down in the HumCPR lawsuit. Fleming should campaign more, very far away.
ReplyDeleteSo Mr Anonymous at 11:38. Your candidate, Ms Fleming, hasn't worked full time since 2006. The taxpayers would like to know if her job is so unimportant that she can miss 3 days a week to campaign. Her coworkers would like her to try pulling her weight around the office.
ReplyDeleteFleming just keeps getting SMALLER and smaller. She is not fit to be in a leadership position.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:15 it sounds like you are now speaking for her co-workers?? I think you better worry about your candidate since she is missing many days from work and missing from jury selection. But pointing the finger away from her, you think will be best for her campaign? I think you should answer my question before shooting off your mouth!I am betting you can't or won't!
ReplyDeleteStill nothing positive to say about Firpo?
ReplyDeleteHow . . . unsurprising.
C'mon, Mr. Objechiv. Where did Elan work in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003? What was her job title? Surely, being a crack journalist, you have found out?
What "defense" cases has she worked on?
It must be tough, hating Gallegos the way you do, having an opportunity to tag him for not showing up in court Tuesday to cover jury selection for Firpo and, not only not showing up himself, but not sending Zach Curtis, who has tried and won a homicide, not sending Kelly Neel, but sending a misdemeanor deputy to pick jurors in a case where he claims he seriously thought about seeking the death penalty. But to tag Gallegos for all that, you would have had to start with "Firpo a no show". And rather than go that route, you objectively chose objective silence. How very objective of you. Why should the public be informed of yet another Firpo flop? Sir, you chose to play the Game of Blogs, and you have lost. Your posturing is exposed, your sad claims to heroism all hollow. You are no Tyrion, no Varys. Reek, now there's a fit.
I don't have any candidate And yes Maggie should show up to work. Her work is piling up while she runs around the county campaigning. I'm an not the only one in office tired of it either.
ReplyDeleteJackie Pizzo is now a Felony deputy, since Nims left.
ReplyDeleteThat's like making the captain's clerk the company commander because all the noncoms and officers are dead. Or surfing.
ReplyDelete@946
ReplyDeletePost it!
I'm anxious to hear how I committed misconduct.
Loser, piece of shit.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any idea what ethics mean in my job? Tell me who you are, and we'll meet.
You are a cowardly fuck.
Why did Chiv send that twice?
ReplyDeleteIn any case, Elan IS running for office so DOES owe us an explanation. Running for office is a job interview. Why is she trying to cover up most of her "13 years of relevant experience" aka not as an attorney? Perhaps because it is not relevant. Her resume is full of holes. Red Flag!
A double homicide case is not important enough for her to be in court? She was not sick. One of the murder victims was about to graduate high school but she felt that she could leave the case to Ms. Pizzo who JUST became a felony lawyer?
Trials only happen in the morning...couldn't she wait until the afternoon to campaign? Elan thinks only of herself and her ambition, not the victims and their families. We saw this in the P v Ferrer case.
Also, I doubt anyone at the county counsel's office is anything but supportive of Maggie. Honestly, if you Anons could accomplish in 38 hours a week what Maggie did at the DA's office, you would probably not be Anons.
Also, what about her four years working with Drug Task Force? That is not a 9 to 5 job, but 24/7. Or, her many years protecting children in this county at CAST? Paul was more than pleased with Maggie's productivity. She seemed to go to trial enough alright.
At the end of the day, Elan is a novice and it shows in the mistakes she makes on large cases and on the small.
For those that disparage Maggie, I challenge you to actually meet her and ask her the tough questions. Of the four candidates, she is the only one with the answers. She is also the kindest of the four. She is who we need.
And yes, I post anonymously as is my right. I would like to keep my job, thank you.
So Anonymous you can disparage others and attack them and try and impact their living but you want to be protected.
ReplyDeleteGotcha.
Maggie's supporters and her poor judgement of letting them do what they want makes her unfit to be DA.
Impact Firpo's living? No, only Paul has the power to fire her, and he has chosen not to despite her repeatedly conducting herself in a manner which warrants it. My comments do not affect her living at all. Unless of course, being a deputy does not pay her enough and that is why she is running... because she needs more money. I suspect it is.
ReplyDeleteAs for Maggie being unfit because she does not try to control everything that people do, that has nothing to do with her fitness for DA. Even you do not believe that. She doesn't have some weird mind control on others that makes them do her bidding.
I did notice though that you are not trying to defend Firpo. That is probably wise as there is no defense for her. She is not ready to take over the incredibly important and profoundly complex position of DA. No ifs ands or buts. She is new to her profession. She cannot account for her time as an "engineer" or picking up dog shit or whatever she was doing. Why don't you look on the web. She used to work for a company, or run a company, called "Doggy Do". I think we have suffered from enough shit in this county, don't you?
But most importantly, she cannot answer the questions in the DA Forums which require real understanding of the law.
Having an unseasoned DA has gotten old. We have been there and done that and look where we are. Enough is enough. Vote for Change. Vote for Hope. Vote for Fleming.
I will never vote for Fleming. She sold out long ago.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a lot of comments critical of Ms. Firpo's legal chops.
ReplyDeleteIn her first case as a deputy DA, she successfully prosecuted Darrell Schwenk for child abuse and got him 30 years.
Let's not forget that back in 2010, Ms. Flemming could not secure a conviction of a teacher who had sex with an underage student. See, People v. Peterson.
Nobdy is perfect, but let's not pretend Ms. Firpo is incapable and Ms. Flemming is Jack McCoy incarnate.
Schwenk and Peterson make interesting comparisons. Both cases were tried twice. Gallegos hung Peterson, which was a very murky stat rape type case adult female, teenage boy. He gave up, threw it to Fleming, who took Paul's mess and tried to fix it. No luck. The case was a mess.
ReplyDeleteSchwenk had priors and was a registered sex offender who admitted his new crimes on tape. Firpo tried Schwenk twice, herself. The first time she went in with three counts. Got one guilty, one acquitted, one hung. But a juror misbehaved so there was a retrial on on the two surviving charges. Second time around Firipo go guilty on both counts, the same one she got before and the one she hung in on before. The max sentence would have been 16 years, but Schwenk had prior convictions. Which the jury knew about (both times). Even so his sentence was reduced by 5 years on appeal.
The cases are really apples and oranges. Firpo has tried about 20 cases and lost or hung 5 or 6 of those. She's not incompetent, but she is no superstar and she's just nowhere near ready for what Paul has given her [Ferrer, anyone remember that far back?] and certainly not ready to lead. She doesn't even know what she does not know, or she would know she is not yet ready.
You sound like a lawyer, 9:19, so you must be familiar with the old saying that a lawyer who claims she never lost a case never takes the hard ones to trial. Firpo's record is under scrutiny, but I do not see the same microscope being shifted to the other candidates' trial history.
ReplyDeleteBut with respect to your comments regarding Peterson, really, it's "murky" if the child wants it? What an antiquated perception. I doubt you would feel the same had it been a 17 year old girl and a 40 year old teacher in a position of power and authority.
I bet you feel spousal rape is "murky" too.
Ok, another positive, fact based comment, addressing the facts at issue, and not at all an ad hominem attack. Oh, wait . . . .
ReplyDeleteInteresting read. 160 comments later, it is abundantly clear that Fleming and her supporters intend to carry on the Salzman legacy of dirty negative politics and keeping the office as a battleground. Thanks, but I'll take the candidate who has made it her platform to remove politics and that kind of sleaze from the office.
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to Ms. Firpo...she has been trained at the foot of sleaze. Yes, that is true... she has never had any other boss other than Paul Gallegos to "teach" her how to prosecute.
ReplyDeleteRemove sleaze from the office? She is in bed with the sleaze. She even talks about her cases on her Facebook page.
Why don't you ask her how she DID NOT get a conviction on a DUI case when the blood alcohol was over a .15%? How is that even possible?
Dirty negative politics? It is called the truth and I am an Arnie supporter. Why do you assume that all truthful criticism is coming from the Maggie camp?
Arnie supporter or Arnie insider?
DeleteTruthful criticism or employees inside the DA's office airing personal agendas?
Actually, Élan Firpo has made a point of asking her supporters to remain positive and has asked everyone to put politics and the pro-Paul, anti-Paul stuff aside. I like her message.
ReplyDeleteYou may be an Arnie supporter slinging mud, but others striving for sleaze are Fleming supporters by their own admission.
ReplyDeleteSubmitted.
ReplyDeleteI have to believe even Rose is ready to stop talking about Paul and start talking about solutions.
ReplyDeleteHow did "sleaze" become synonymous with truth? The truth is we do need solutions and Paul is not the issue as he is not running. Good comment Anon 4:00.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that if Elan has made a point to stay positive and clean throughout her campaign, then that is great. I believe Maggie is saying the same to her supporters.
The real difference is that Arnie, Allan, and Maggie are giving us their full resumes.
Elan is purposely hiding or downplaying significant chunks of her resume because they are embarrassing. Is that being truthful? Or clean?
I went on the web as Anon 6:50 suggested and she does not have 13 years of engineering & management experience only 5 years and 7 months and then she had to leave the company.
She appears to be selling this "management experience" thing quite well, to her credit, but she was not here when she did it so how do we know what the truth is?
She is running for the most powerful attorney position in our county, but she does not even have enough knowledge to know that she does not have enough knowledge.
I find it scary to elect someone who we do not know very well, but what we do know is that they throw a dead victim under a bus to save themselves. Or say they have 13 years doing something when it is less than half of that.
How is that a positive message? How is that clean?
It's those kind of lies Maggie and her supporters are telling people. Elan has far more information on her website about her history than the other three candidates put together. Maggie has no resume at all on her website, which shows your and her character. Baseless accusations. Elan has three biographical series running on Humboldt Access, and another on Out Here in the Redwoods. No one has exposed their history more than Élan.
ReplyDeleteReally? Ok
ReplyDeletewhere was she working, what was she doing, job title, resume level details in
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Why does her campaign brochure say she worked for some now absorbed company called inter-plex, when her deleted Linked in Page made no mention of any such employer?
I don't know what a Linked in Page is, and the brochure I have doesn't show that so I don't know what you are talking about. But again, instead of posting the question on a blog to people who clearly won't have the answer, go to the debate tomorrow and ask her or email her info@elanfirpo.com. I happen to know that she and her campaign manager are good about responding. I'd also recommend her biography series running on Humboldt Access, because she talks about those companies and the different industry cycles.
ReplyDeleteActually, I can tell you in 1999,2000 she was in biotech. If you watch her series, I think that was whe she designed the implantable ear device and led the project team that ended making 32 million dollars.
ReplyDeleteprove it. Name the company, name the project. Because it sure wasn't intri-plex.
ReplyDeleteJust so I'm clear, an anonymous commenter is on a blog asking other anonymous commenters to prove where someone else who isn't even a part of the conversation was 15 years ago. If this is what Max and Losey have degraded to, things must be getting desperate.
ReplyDeleteMax and losey have been desperate for years. That's why they pumped up paul for the dope growers at the expense of the law abiding normal people in the county. Weak and definitely morally bankrupt. .
ReplyDeleteSo Maggie has chosen Bonnie Neely, Linda Atkins, Mike Losey, Max Cardoza, and Kathleen Bryson as her spokes people. Showing her excellent judgement.
ReplyDeleteYou tell em Anonymous!
DeleteAgain, we deflect from the question of what Elan was actually doing.
ReplyDeleteWe know where Maggie was - she was here - or she was in Contra Costa - learning her trade aka being a DA. That is why she doesn't need to go on Humboldt Access talking credit for whatever it is that allegedly made a bunch of money.
She is clearly the best choice and we will all see that June 3rd.
Maggie is clearly the best choice and we will see in June. Hands down winner really. No one else has a shot. That is why Max Cardoza and Mike Losey and anon et al. have dedicated there existence to hammering Élan, because she is no threat.
ReplyDeleteFirpo must have cheated on the Bar exam, because really, she can't even form complete sentences. Max Cardoza told me once she was asked to spell "cat" and couldn't do it. We need a DA who can spell CAT!
ReplyDeleteLosey said that Maggie can spell cat.
ReplyDeleteLosey can't spell cat. But he can spell Paul I love you please make me the chief investigator. Oh wait. That didn't happen. Wait again....now Paul is baaad.
DeleteSo can I! Look: C A T!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should run. No wait, I do not have enough experience... but wait, neither does Elan. Shoot! The filing deadline has passed. )-:
Maybe I can run in 2018!
You could run but you are too busy blogging.
DeleteYou would also need grammar lessons.
What? Grammar? Lmao. Even intelligence isn't required. Just look at bonnie or Wes cheese breath. Of course Paul is the king of untruthful dip shits but oh boy he loves weed and weed growers.
ReplyDeleteListen dirtbag. Bonnie Wes and Paul are not running.
DeleteAs for you big talk for a man who cannot even do his job.
Which of the 100 anonymous doesn't do his job? You really need to lighten up.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 6:32, the anonymous who it refers to, knows. It could even be you.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you follow your own advice and lighten up.
Grammar lessons? Did I miss something? I thought this was a blog...I did not realize it was English class. Anon 7:25 please tell me where I went wrong grammatically....I am at the edge of my seat.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter. It's just a very disappointed poster who can't deal with shit. So just lyao and hope that he'll get mental health counseling
Delete5:41 and 8:09 takes a nut to know one.
ReplyDeleteWho is keeping the conversation going?
Not the poster who mentioned grammar.
Whaaaaa.oh shucks grow up.
ReplyDelete