IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO START OFF YOUR CAMPAIGN BY LYING

There was an interesting little tidbit, CHRIS KERRIGAN'S email/press release on ◼ Eric's post.

OUR CAMPAIGN OFFICE IS NOW OPEN!

(see, he starts out on a positive note)

The Kerrigan for Supervisor campaign will open its new office headquarters to the public for a Grand Opening Party this Friday(March 28th) at 6:00 PM!

This will be an opportunity for supporters to hear from the Kerrigan for Supervisor campaign, and learn about volunteer opportunities. Chris will be there to speak with guests about how we can move Humboldt County forward together!

Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet Chris and your fellow supporters! Refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP to Mitra at or by calling 707-442-2220.

DATE: Friday, March 28
TIME: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
LOCATION: 427 F Street, Suite 213, above the Sewell Gallery in Old Town Eureka.

(Then the tone changes...)

Today’s Times-Standard explains the huge difference in the Board of Supervisors candidates’ fundraising. Incumbent Virginia Bass’s official disclosure brags about her war chest: (BIG LIE #2.)

“…Bass has raised a total of $17.926 since Jan. 1, but she already had a beginning cash balance of $59.035.”

It’s going to take a LOT of effort to match Bass and the big-moneyed interests who want to keep her in power. (Same tired old hate-filled mantra)

That’s where YOU come in. We need supporters like you to help Chris Kerrigan get elected and move Humboldt County forward.

(Forward? We're back to 2004 here)
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But we're not done yet:

From Chris Kerrigan:

Thanks to so many of you we have a great start to this campaign. We are moving forward

(did he steal that from MSNBC or Obama?)

at a rapid rate. Last week we officially announced our candidacy

(WE? Is this gollum-speak?)

We had a great crowd of enthusiastic supporters, too. All around town I am constantly getting offers of support and offers to volunteer. I believe it is going to help us build the best grassroots campaign Humboldt County has ever seen!

This election is so important for the future of Humboldt County. Special interests groups (sic) like HUM CPR have taken control (sic) our local politics and have drastically reversed our General Plan.

(That's not true either)

In case you missed it you can read about it in this weeks (sic) North Coast Journal cover story

(as opposed to THIS cover story.)

I have two asks for you this week. First we (there's that "WE" again) are entering this race with ideas, momentum and vision, but we are up against a tremendous amount of big money.

(That's rich given that it was SALZMAN who has made it so expensive to run in this county)

The incumbent has raised over $60,000 prior to use even entering the race!

(Uh, gee weren't you planning to run for Mayor of Eureka, and changed your mind at the last minute, Chris?)

That war chest doesn't scare me however (sic). I know we (there's that WE again) can win because we have beat the big money before - remember when Rex Bohn spent upwards of $150,000 to unseat me on the city council (BIG LIE #1.) and failed!

(Good times, Richard, good times! That was before "I", Chris Kerrigan, not "WE," left my council seat to head off on my quixotic quest to become a big-wig in John Edwards' Presidency)

I need your help to close the gap. Our first campaign financial reporting deadline is tomorrow evening. I am asking you to make a contribution in the next 24 hours. Help us get our POSITIVE message and vision out to the voters!

(POSITIVE VISION? IT'S ALL ANTI, ANTI, ANTI, where's the positive?)

Please make a donation now: redacted

This weekend we moved into our campaign headquarters at 427 street, suite 212 (above the Sewell Gallery). This centrally located office will allow us to gather volunteers, host events, and effectively manage our growing campaign operations. We need help furnishing our office! Tables, desks, computers and phones are all items that would be very much appreciated. If you can help us please contact Mitra Abidi.... Feel free to stop in and visit us, or volunteer to help too. (after hours and weekends the buildings (sic) front door may be locked so call up to Mitra... and she'll come down and open the door.)

I know we can win this race. I need your help to do so. The time has come for a new era in Humboldt County politics. (Utter BS) One where ideas and innovation trump pessimism, and it's not who you are, but what you can contribute to our community that matters

(unless you're Rex Bohn and have helped actually BUILD Ballparks and stuff)

I (oh, it's back to "I") look forward to representing all of you

(well, ok, not ALL of you)

(as Eureka Mayor ooops, I mean...) on the Board of Supervisors. Together, we can move Humboldt County forward! (What fundraising email did he carp that off?)

Onwards,
Chris Kerrigan

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What could have been a positive press release from the Kerrigan campaign touting the opening of his Campaign HQ is just more of the WEB OF LIES
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Just call it Salzman's 2014 "WEB OF LIES" - THE SEQUEL

Apparently Chris hasn't learned anything in the last 10 years. You'd think he'd have had enough of lying, having been burned last time by one of Salzman's little missives, and then from his experience with failed Presidential candidate John Edwards, who had his own Web Of Lies.

IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO START OFF YOUR CAMPAIGN BY LYING, CHRIS.

The campaign emails were sent from one of Salzman’s email lists “Redwood Progressive.” Signed by Kerrigan. Who wrote them? They reek of Salzman. And of cut-and-paste mixed with Salzman's own bug-a-boos.

BIG LIE #1.) Rex Bohn DID NOT “spend upwards of $150,000” in his 2004 Eureka City Council campaign against Chris Kerrigan. Maybe Chris/Richard can produce the 460s to back up his vastly overstated claim. The 10-17-04 through 12-31-04 460s show Rex with just over $1,000 more than Chris - REX: $84,863.94 vs. CHRIS: $83,198.90. A very close match.

BIG LIE #2.) Chris'/Richard's second email claims, “Incumbent Virginia Bass official disclosure brags about her war chest” when Virginia was never interviewed by the Times-Standard reporter, nor did she brag. The Times-Standard article merely what was reported on the 460s.

Fourth District
Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass has raised a total of $17,926 since Jan. 1, but she already had a beginning cash balance of $59,035.

The incumbent's monetary contributions totaled $11,596, and her nonmonetary contributions came to $6,330.

Eureka resident Shirley Bass was the top monetary contributor with a $1,000 donation. Virginia Bass received just over 40 monetary contributions this period.

Justin Zabel of Mercer-Fraser Company was the largest nonmonetary contributor with a $900 donation for a load of concrete.

Virginia Bass spent $14,590 in cash, which left her with an ending cash balance of $60,670.
Fourth District supervisor candidate Chris Kerrigan has raised a total of $9,613. He began with a cash balance of zero dollars.

Kerrigan's monetary contributions totaled $7,029 with 29 contributors, and he raised $2,584 in nonmonetary contributions.

Eureka resident Roy Grieshaber, Scotia resident Melvin Kreb, McKinleyville resident Ken Miller and L & A Enterprises President Anne Pierson all tie as Kerrigan's top monetary contributors with $500 donations.

Christina Anastasia, a jewelry designer and creator, was Kerrigan's top nonmonetary contributor with a $1,109 donation for hand-crafted jewelry.

Kerrigan has spent $6,222 of the available cash, and has an overall balance of $1,883.

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THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THESE TWO LIES, HOWEVER. There was no HumCPR back in 2004. The HATE Salzman has predates HumCPR. And he always has to stir up the cauldrons of hate with his emails. He's a one-trick pony with the same tired old hate-filled mantra. No matter what race he's involved in.

CHRIS KERRIGAN SHOULD RUN ON HIS MERITS, IF HE HAS ANY. NOT ON THIS TIRED OLD CAMPAIGN OF LIES AND HATE. He's had 10 years since that 2004 election. During that time his former opponent served his community tirelessly and selflessly as he had done for many years prior. When he finally ran for Supervisor, he was elected on his merit.

Again. Kerrigan sent out what should have been a positive email announcing the opening of his Campaign Headquarters (which is likely to cost a pretty penny, btw)

Why he either chose to - or allowed Salzman to - turn it into a dishonest attack email is something Chris should explain. Is this how it is going to go for the next 68 days? What else is in the pipeline, Chris? What is Salzman - or you - going to make up in the smear game?

BACK IN 2004, THE EUREKA REPORTER SAID: "We, as a community, cannot tolerate a campaign based upon smear, vitriol and name-calling." THE TIMES-STANDARD SAID: "It's about how we choose our elected leaders, and if we're willing to support the politics of personal attack as the nasty new standard in local elections." - THE EUREKA REPORTER called on Kerrigan to 'disavow the outrageous e-mail and dump Salzman as a campaign adviser for writing such scurrilous allegations.'.

That was then. This is NOW.

CHRIS CERTAINLY ISN'T MOVING US FORWARD AT ALL, IS HE.

◼ The Web Of Lies - The Journal 05
◼ MATTHEW IN THE MIDDLE: Campaign Season 2014 - Matthew Owen//Lost Coast Outpost
◼ Chris Kerrigan Targets Bass In Campaign Launch Speech - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost
◼ Chris Kerrigan to Make Run for Supervisor Officially Official Tomorrow - Hank Sims/Lost Coast Outpost
◼ Chris Kerrigan Finally Makes Run for Supervisor More or Less Official - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost
◼ (AUDIO UPDATE) What Would You Ask Eureka Mayoral Hopeful Chris Kerrigan? - Andrew Goff/Lost Coast Outpost
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Chris Kerrigan and Virginia Bass will be Kevin Hoover’s guests on KHSU’s Thursday Night Talk April 3rd from 7-8 PM. Tune it to KHSU/KHSU.org and call in with your questions and comments.

I suggest someone ask Chris about this.

Pony up, Chris.

Bring out your 460's Chris. How much money did you and Rex Bohn each raise in the 2004 election?

Does your recent fundraising letter contain a mistake? Or a deliberate lie?

Is this how you are going to be conducting yourself throughout this election?
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Chris Kerrigan, answer the question: Did Rex Bohn raise "upwards of $150,000" in your race in 2004?
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The answer is NO. And the 460's prove it.

The 10-17-04 through 12-31-04 460s show Rex with just over $1,000 more than Chris - REX: $84,863.94 vs. CHRIS: $83,198.90. A very close match.

Will Salzman/Chris issue a correction?

THE SUPS 460s

◼ Campaign finance disclosure forms filed for Humboldt County supervisor races; experts say cost of local elections on the rise - Lorna Rodriguez/The Times-Standard

...In the county supervisor races for the 4th and 5th district, the four candidates have raised a total of $31,930 since the start of 2014, according to the most recently filed campaign finance forms....

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Yep. BIG Money, that.

Does anyone in this County have a clue?

"With four candidates seeking the position, (College of the Redwoods political science professor Ryan) Emenaker said this will most likely be an expensive election."

What a stooooopid thing to say. At least in relation to THIS race. This one is going to be a cakewalk, and it is going to be far cheaper than recent elections, where any candidate even THINKING about running had to be prepared to TRY to raise $300,000 to compete with the Salzman machine.
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◼ Humboldt district attorney candidates raise $109K; race wide open with Gallegos not seeking reelection - Lorna Rodriguez/The Times-Standard

Nothing that hasn't already been covered ◼ HERE.

With bated breath...

Advice to candidates - the media will have a feeding frenzy. Don't waste your time worrying about who donated to your opponent. What matter is what YOU do, and keeping your own campaign on track. Unless it's your best friend donating to your opponent, it's irrelevant to you.

◼ Some 460s in some not yet - John Chiv/Words Worth

◼ With $61287 in contributions and Carson Park Design being paid $10, 769 - John Chiv/Words Worth
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Hey, candidates! Got someone on your team who can write, sort of?

Then you too should be allowed a "Guest column" at Lost Coast Outpost.

Yes, while "R Trent" Salzman is skulking around the DA campaign, and soliciting donations, and setting up to run Chris Kerrigan, he gets a free platform.

Yes, the man who brought EXPENSIVE campaigns to Humboldt County, the man who set up his own special "PAC" (remember the so-called Alliance For Ethical Business?) now gets to proselytize about campaign finance limits and reform.

◼ Maybe he can explain how one comes up with money to offer a journalist a $1,000 to write a hit piece.

To get YOUR free hit piece column, call up Hank at Lost Coast Outpost.

Get 'em while they're hot!
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◼ Mielke soliciting supporters on LOCO; Salzman needs to do this county a favor and move on - John Chiv/Words Worth

John mentions "Redwood Progressive." That is one of Salzman's groups/listserves. AEB (Alliance For Ethical Business). Ourhumboldt.org, Redwood Progressive, Citizens for Real Economic Growth, SaveEurekaWaterfront.org, Behind the Redwood Curtain, and more. Like boiler room scammers. Orwellian names, really, for example, do you really think Citizens For REAL Economic Growth was ever about economic growth? No. It's always about destroying his target.
◼ Two new aliases for Richard "R Trent" Salzman
◼ One has to wonder...
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In the comments thread at LoCo, Mitch tries deflecting criticism of Salzman with THIS gem: "And you know what they've found? That he signed his cat's name to a letter to the editor."

Not so fast little Mitchie.

In fact, he used the names of people who were indigent, and unable and unlikely to be aware that their names were being used. He used the names of supporters (after asking if it was ok that he signed their name to his letter, then using it again and again for his own purposes...caught because he wrote a letter attacking a FRIEND of said supporter, who did NOT approve being given author credit for Richard's hit piece.) And he made up names, and yes, he used the name of his dog, not his cat.

He did it over and over and over again.

And that's not all.

Sure, you can pretend it doesn't matter. But, Mitch, you profess to care about honesty. You're all about honesty in elections, right?

Apparently not.
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KINS and other media outlets around here have always put 'columnists' on hiatus during the political season if they are involved in a campaign. I am sure Hank will do the same with BOTH Matthew and "R. Trent"/Sara the dog.

A very interesting Matthew in the Middle regarding campaign finance

◼ To paraphrase Mark Twain, there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and anonymous blog comments. - Matthew Owen/Lost Coast Outpost

A couple of local urban blog legends are “developer controlled money buys our local elections” and “whoever spends the most wins elections.” Neither could be further from the truth.

Here’s a partial list of the $10,000+ aggregate donors from 2004-2013:

Paul Gallegos

Joan Gallegos, attorney (and his wife) – Eureka, CA: $43,700 (campaign loan)
Ester Saunoras & Richard Cogswell, Lost Coast Winery – Petrolia, CA: $32,620
Blue Lake Casino: $30,000
David Gallegos: $25,000
Jennifer Keller, attorney – Irvine, CA: $18,500
Rob and Cherie Arkley, Security National – Eureka, CA: $17,000
Jaime O’Donnell – developer, Trinidad, CA: $14,228
Bear River Casino: $10,000
Orlando Gallegos – New Mexico: $10,000
Bonnie Neely is a close second with:

Blue Lake Casino: $61,000

Bill Pierson, Pierson Building Center & Sedgefield (Bill’s middle name) Properties: $52,590
Master Plan Development, Inc. of Dana Point, CA: $10,000

And in third place is Patrick Cleary with:

Blue Lake Casino: $25,000
Bill Pierson: $15,000

Considering that Blue Lake Casino spent $94,475 in the 2010 elections alone, where was our local mainstream media writing about the “influence of money” in our local elections? If you think the Times-Standard and the North Coast Journal are in the news business, you’re wrong. From their perspective, which do they think is more important: in-depth investigative journalism or selling advertising? That’s an easy answer.
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He mentions the cost of the DA's races. It's worth noting. With Gallegos out of the race, does a prospective DA candidate have to raise $300,00 just to compete?

No, this will be a less expensive race (except for the fact that the price of everything the candidates have to buy has gone up).

Or - it should be. Won't be if Salzman and Co. are involved. Something for all who are running to keep in mind.
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Medical marijuana group holds fundraiser for Gallegos in Sacramento; Raises legal, ethical questions surrounding campaign finance for Humboldt DA

◼ Medical marijuana group holds fundraiser for Gallegos in Sacramento; Raises legal, ethical questions surrounding campaign finance for Humboldt DA
The focus Wednesday was clear, with suggested donations for Gallegos ranging from $250 to $2,500. The money will go to pay off the more than $40,000 in campaign debt Gallegos racked up last year -- the bulk of which is owed to his wife. Guests included representatives of the Humboldt Growers Association, members of the California Board of Equalization, medical marijuana dispensary owners and former Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters. The event was closed to reporters.

Del Real, who spoke to the Times-Standard about the fundraiser last week, said that he could not allow a Times-Standard journalist to attend the party because he would then have to let other members of the media, who also expressed interest in coming, to attend the event.

While Del Real later declined to provide the list of attendees and the total amount raised for Gallegos at the fundraiser, he said he would be happy to talk about the event afterward. Numerous phone messages left on Del Real's cell phone through the end of the week were not returned.

Gallegos said before the fundraiser that he had no problem with members of the media attending, adding that he supported the notion of openness for an industry that lives largely in the shadows.

”I'm an elected official, but at the same time, these people are not,” Gallegos said, adding that while he could not speak for Del Real, he thought the league stood to benefit from more exposure. “These are legitimate people that are trying to change the law -- why would they not want it to be out there?”
____
Matt Drange produced this story for the Times-Standard and California Watch, part of the Center for Investigative Reporting. He can be reached at mdrange@californiawatch.org.

Every single person in that room will be public information, every single person will have contributed more than the $99 threshold for anonymity. Every single related expense and the resultant income will have to be disclosed.

The fact remains that Gallegos couldn't get elected by telling the truth about who he is - he pretended to be 'law and order' - called himself a professor - and did NOT tell people the truth about his relationship with the growers.

At least now the mask is off.

So, $250 to $2,500 dinner tickets are all fully reportable

It will be interesting to see the campaign filings on Paul Gallegos' Sacramento soiree. How much did he rake in? And from whom?

District Attorney Paul Gallegos, Poster boy for "Vote Local Control" begging for big bucks from - wait for it - out of town - makes the paper. $250-$2,500 a pop dinner

◼ Pot lobbying group to host Gallegos fundraiser; Sacramento soiree for DA charges $250 a plate and more - TS
Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos is still looking to pay off some campaign debt and hopes to get a lot of help Wednesday at a pricey Sacramento fundraiser sponsored by a medical marijuana lobbying organization.

...$41,000 in outstanding loans, including $26,000 owed to his wife, local attorney Joan Gallegos.

I'm hearing that the local boys aren't ponying up the dough - probably because even they realize that he is a faker, and has let everyone down.

◼ For Gallegos, ‘multitasking’ means pandering to growers and paying off campaign debt all at the same time - The Mirror (image source)

◼ "Vote Local Control" Poster Boy, in his own words. Say anything.

Paul Gallegos spent $222,000 to keep his job, the most of all the candidates

◼ TS A pricey affair: Candidates for Humboldt County offices spent more than $1 million in 2010
...Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos might run unopposed in 2014 as he led all candidates, spending $222,000, according to the forms.

The district attorney's race has also historically proven to be a costly one. In 2006, Gallegos and challenger Worth Dikeman combined to spend almost $325,000 before the primary.

This year, according to the filings, Gallegos and challenger Allison Jackson combined to spend $371,221, with Jackson shelling out almost $150,000. In the end, Gallegos spent the equivalent of $8.80 per vote he received, while Jackson spent $6.47.

Gallegos reported receiving some large single donations, with Blue Lake Rancheria donating $10,000, Benemann Interpreter Services donating $2,000, Joseph Burger Enterprises donating $2,000 and campaign manager Natalynne DeLapp donating $7,000, an amount roughly equivalent to her campaign salary for the filing period, which ran from Oct. 17 to the end of the year.

Jackson's largest reported donation in the filing period came from Dennis Wendt, who pitched in $2,000. The candidate also poured $9,341 of her own money into her campaign.

Gallegos also reported having $41,000 in outstanding loans at the end of the year, with $26,000 of it coming from his wife, local attorney Joan Gallegos....

He is far and above the most expensive elected official in the county. Only his first race received normal funding.

Paul Gallegos and Derek Bowman, redux - watch this one.

◼ Multi-agency effort leads to arrest of parolee at large in Arcata

Three people were arrested Monday after a multi-agency search for a parolee at large ended at a gas station in Valley West in Arcata.

Derek Bowman, 29, was arrested by officers with California Highway Patrol after the Eureka Police Department asked for assistance in locating Bowman, who failed to report to his parole officer. Bowman is on parole in connection to an armed robbery in Fortuna, said CHP officer Paul Dahlen.

Officers also arrested two people who were in the car with Bowman at the time, and reported finding a small amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle, Dahlen said.

Georgina Archambault, 29, was arrested and charged with possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of burglary tools and a violation of probation. Officers also arrested Nachel Black, 32, for an outstanding warrant, said Dahlen.

Scanner traffic at the time reported a fourth suspect who fled the scene on foot, possibly with a firearm, but Dahlen said that officers on scene did not verify the reports.
◼ Multi-agency effort leads to arrest of parolee - Humboldt Beacon
Related stories:

Remember Derek? Whose nine felonies were swooped up and dismissed on a single day AFTER his parents, using the Tribe's money, gave Gallegos ten grand+ for his re-election campaign? After his parents, whose OTHER son MURDERED another Native American, stood on the Courthouse steps calling Gallegos' opponent, Worth Dikeman, a racist. (Worth put their other son away.)

◼ What will Gallegos do this time? DECEMBER 13, 2006
◼ ER - Bowman to undergo evaluation FEBRUARY 16, 2007
◼ Oh Great. Inmate escapes from county mental health facility in Eureka
◼ BREAKING NEWS - Derek Bowman Back In Custody AUGUST 14, 2007

Derek Bowman arrested on warrants
ER - Bear River members seek chairperson's recall
ER - Gallegos sidesteps questions about possible conflict of interest in Bowman charges
ER - Questions without answers hinder our newsgathering
ER - Bowman story not accurate
ER - Contribution made because Gallegos was the better of the two
ER - Questions remain in DA's handling of Bowman charges
ER - Bear River official discusses financial contributions from tribe
ER - Tribe's contribution to DA's campaign was made by the Tribal Council, not Bowman
ER - Gallegos is 'public servant,' not Legal Spiegel
ER - It's telling that Gallegos witch hunt didn't start until firing of Dikeman
ER - Writer appreciates editor's note that identifies writers
ER - Residents deserve answers to questions asked of DA's Office
ER - Bitter? You bet!
TS - Donations not improper, says Bear River Band
TS - DA's office: State OK'd handling of plea deal
(note: Eureka Reporter articles are no longer available online - but hard copies are available - if you are a reporter who finally pays attention to this travesty - the info is out there.)

You're still left with $11,100 and a publicity stunt given to Paul Gallegos, and Bowman getting out from under all charges against him, free to return to his job as Bear River Casino surveillance (security).

That's Paul Gallegos making our communites safer. (That was in 2006)

Is he still working at Bear River Casino?

Gallegos' campaign defends use of polling; calls it 'standard practice'

◼ Gallegos' campaign defends use of polling; calls it 'standard practice' - James Faulk The Times-Standard (Saved, scrapbook style, for the record) Note: Eureka Reporter Articles relating to this same subject disappeared when the paper closed and shut down their online site.

EUREKA -- The campaign to re-elect District Attorney Paul Gallegos is defending a decision to spend $5,000 of its campaign money on polling.

One local critic has claimed that the polls actually asked about prominent local businessman Rob Arkley.

But when asked about the polling, and the questions that were included, Gallegos' campaign manager, Allison Sterling Nichols, said the poll has underscored Gallegos' good position in the campaign.

”Our poll confirmed that a majority of Humboldt residents think Paul is doing a great job and are impressed with his success of taking violent criminals off our streets and reducing violent crime rates in Humboldt County,” she said. “People agree with Paul's priorities of public safety, integrity in office, and equal justice for all.”

Polling is part of the political landscape, she said.

”Polling is standard practice for campaigns, and including the names of other prominent community leaders or politicians is also standard practice -- it gives a benchmark to compare other results to,” she said.

Dave Parris, campaign manager for Gallegos' opponent, Worth Dikeman, said polling is a legitimate campaign strategy, but that push polling -- designed to sway public opinion rather than gauge it -- is inappropriate.

He also said using a local person's name in the poll without their permission -- such as Rob Arkley -- is also problematic.

”What does that have to do with running your campaign?”

Jerry Partain, whose daughter received a polling phone call, said the call came from outside the area.

”It's interesting that the same people who don't want corporation outside the county to have anything to do with local elections hire people outside the area to make these calls,” he said.

Partain, a prominent local conservative, also said that he believes the polls were not seeking the public's opinion, but were rather trying to push the public into supporting Gallegos.

According to his financial disclosures, Gallegos paid Julie Francis of Bellavia Research for the surveys. Partain said the call to his daughter came from out of the area.

”If we're going to keep it local, hire local people to do the surveys,” he said.

****

Gallegos Poll Accusations Way Off Base

Rocky Drill, MY WORD for the Times-Standard
April 7, 2006

In a recent Times-Standard article by James Faulk (March 27), Jerry Partain (local conservative opinion maker) and Dave Parris (Worth Dikeman's campaign manager) both accused Paul Gallegos' campaign of conducting a negative telephone poll called a "push poll" that is used to sway public opinion. They also accused the Gallegos campaign of belittling Rob Arkley's name in the telephone poll and of being disingenuous because they hired an out-of-town firm to conduct the poll. Wrong on all counts! Let's get the facts straight.

1) James Faulk of the T-S first interviewed Alison Sterling Nichols (Paul Gallegos' campaign manager). He asked a lot of questions about the poll and got a lot of answers but there were no questions about whether the poll was a "push poll."

2) James Faulk then interviewed Jerry Partain and Dave Parris concerning the same poll. Both of them suggested this was a "push poll" but they gave no reasons to support their assertion.

3) James Faulk did not talk to Alison Sterling Nichols again and ask her to respond to these unsupported accusations of "push polling." If he had he would have learned that the Gallegos poll was not a "push poll." "Push polls" call thousands of people and each telephone conversation is only about 1 minute long. Compare this to the Gallegos poll where only 300 people were interviewed and the average telephone polling time was 18-20 minutes. A "push poll" mostly focuses on only one person and happens so fast you don't have time to think. The Gallegos campaign's poll was about as long as any poll ever gets and asked questions on many topics.

4) Dave Parris also suggested that using a local person's name in the poll (e.g. Rob Arkley) without their permission is problematic. That's garbage! Rob Arkley and other prominent conservatives (e.g. Jerry Partain) are major opinion makers in the county. As public figures they should expect that their names will be used in public discussions. The intent of the Gallegos campaign's poll was to gauge other people's opinions, not to create those opinions. Questions were asked about Gallegos and other politicians and prominent citizens in Humboldt County. If a poll, for example, asked the public what they thought about product A, I would expect the pollster to also ask for their opinions of competing products B and C. Whether polling about a product, an issue, or a politician, why not get as much information as possible?

5) Jerry Partain suggested that the Gallegos campaign hired an out-of-the-area company to conduct their poll. Wrong again! They hired Julie Francis, a local pollster who runs Bellavia Research. Since her company is small, she does not have an in-house call center (a centralized location with many phones and the trained pollsters to use those phones) so she contracted with a call center in the Bay Area. Actually, it is important that the call center not be located in the area that is being surveyed because the poll needs to be as unbiased as possible to be accurate. If the call center was staffed with local people, a caller might know someone who they're calling or might be involved in the local politics they are asking questions about and could influence their responses.

6) Jerry Partain also tried to connect the Gallegos' campaign to Measure T, but in a negative manner. He suggested that the Gallegos campaign is backing Measure T at the polls but is not living up to its intent, since it is sending money out of the area to hire a non-local corporation (the pollster that is actually local) for political purposes. Wrong again! The purpose of Measure T is just the exact opposite. Measure T wants to stop non-local corporations from sending money into Humboldt County for political purposes, not out of the county.

It's too bad that in politics it doesn't matter if what you say is true or not, only that you say it. It isn't illegal to accuse someone of something even if it's just an opinion that can't be backed up with proof. People will remember the accusation, not the reasons for the accusation. That's what Jerry Partain and Dave Parris are doing. Their comments are all just innuendo, with no proof, nothing more. Don't let them sway you. Think!

Rocky Drill, who has an engineering degree from Humboldt State University, tutors math part-time and sings in the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir. He lives in Arcata.

The opinions expressed in My Word pieces do not necessarily reflect the editorial viewpoint of the Times-Standard.

The Big Money Backs...

◼ The Big Money Backs... - Fred's Humboldt Blog THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 (including comments, which are an important part of the record)

Paul Gallegos, at least so far, in the race for District Attorney. Interesting indeed, according to this story in the Eureka Reporter, that Gallegos has outraised Dikeman in the first reporting period with Gallegos bringing in $32,258 in monetary contributions to Dikeman's $13,505.

Even more interesting is where Paul "Vote Local Control" Gallegos' largest contributions came from: $10,000 from some "retired NEW MEXICO resident"(???) and $5000 from some "retired BERKELEY resident"(???). Oh, I guess that's ok. Those are people, not corporations, right?

Worth Dikeman's largest contributions were local.

************

Jerry Partain had a commentary that dealt a little with the Gallegos campaign in today's ER. He tells of his daughter getting a phone call. The caller was from out of the area doing one of those "push polls" on behalf of the Gallegos campaign. Push polls are those polls where they ask loaded questions to set you up for their sales pitch.

While the phone calls from outside the area for a local campaign seemed to raise concerns with Jerry Partain, I was more interested in why they would ask his daughter how she felt about Rob Arkley. Hmm... I mentioned before I wondered if the Arkleys would be backing Gallegos again as they did last time around. So far I haven't heard anything in regards to that.

So what were they going to ask her that involved Arkley? Too bad she hung up on the caller. I can't help but wonder if they had it set up with two possible answers:

If the girl said she felt ok with the Arkleys, the caller could then say how the Arkleys supported Gallegos' last run for the D.A.'s office. If she said she thought the Arkleys were greedy, rich people, the caller could then say that Gallegos opposes the Arkley's Marina Center proposal, or some such. I could be wrong on that. That's just my guess.

I never hang up on those political push poll type calls. There's often interesting info that can be gleaned from them. Again, it's too bad Jerry's daughter ended the phone call prematurely. Anyone else get one of those calls from the Gallegos campaign? If so, please do tell us how it went and what exactly the questions about Arkley were about.

posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:06 AM

52 Comments:

At 10:27 AM, Rose said...

So-o-o-o-o-o - I am just wondering - - - -How can you be AGAINST outside CORPORATE influence, and then PAY BIG BUCKS for a push poll by AN OUTSIDE CORPORATION?

That push poll is being conducted by a large non-local corporation, Pacific Crest Research.

Pacific Crest Research has a record of doing exactly what you said, Fred - using Push Polls to attempt to influence, not measure, public opinion. A Push Poll is a particularly nasty little tool.

In this particular poll, they ask several times throughout the approximately 35 minute session - "if the election were held today, who would you vote for - Paul or Dikeman?" Then several times they say "OK - I'm giving you a second chance - if the election were held today..." - then "Last Chance, if the election were held today..."

They also define "Progressive" as "mainstream."

Here are some links to give you more information about Pacific Crest Research. (Paul's campaign disclosure, according to a story in the ER today lists payment to Bellavia Research (could that be these guys? Bellavia Research Institute on Addictions), not Pacific Crest Research.

Here's one piece of info on Pacific Crest Research... http://www.morankikerbrown.com/CM/Articles/EVIDENCE%20ELIMINATOR%20CASE.pdf#search='Pacific%20Crest%20Research'

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (PDF)
... Pacific Crest Research Corporation, which is named as a co-defendant ...
www.morankikerbrown.com/CM/Articles/EVIDENCE ELIMINATOR CASE.pdf - 114k - View as html - More from this site - Save
Matthew Hewitt, incorporated and operates PACIFIC CREST RESEARCH CORPORATION

Essentially - When being sued in Federal Court, the guy destroyed evidence when ordered to produce his original hard drive, he erased it - they caught him at it, and struck his statement, and entered a default judgment against him...

Here's another where Pacifc Crest is working for a big developer:

http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol28/28_13/28_13nets1.html
Pollsters push Ratner arena

"...Hagan, who has spoken out against Atlantic Yards since she first heard of Ratner’s plans for the mega-development just blocks from her home, said several of the questions featured “leading” or inaccurate and biased language, a key feature of “push polling.” Push polling attempts to influence — rather than measure — public opinion — by using questions worded in a manner intended to spread information that is often incorrect about people and positions that run counter to the position of the poll’s client."

At 10:37 AM, Anonymous said...

The push poller identified himself as being from Pacific Crest Research out of Oakland. Non-local Corporation!

check them out there are articles about them

or just google them.

The questions were very inaccurate and biased The poller seemed to be trying to influence " rather than measure my opinion. The questions had misinformation and seemed intended to spread misinformation about Gallegos's poor record. They also were designed to spread misinformation to malign Mr. Dikeman.

Generally, anyone with ethics would never stoop so low. Guess that is why Gallegos and Salzman chose them.

And yes Fred - I have ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.

At 10:43 AM, Anonymous said...

If Gallegos were in touch with the local community, he would not need to hire pollsters to find out how they feel.

This is not about finding out how people feel about him, its about misinforming and misleading people---but hey, isn't that what the past grand jury foreperson (Marlow) accused him of in a letter to a judge. At least that is what was in the Times Standard article I read.

At 10:56 AM, Rose said...

Fred, I just sent you a list of the question. While quickly scribbled it is a pretty accurate rendition of the session.

In the questions you can see what Gallegos hopes people will get out of it - particularly interesting is the notion that he has brought innovative new programs (new focus) to the DA's office, and that this appears to mean 'Homeless Court' and 'Drug Treatment on Demand.'

While it may be that he wants to take credit for it - to my knowledge Paul did not think up Homeless Court; it is something that is done in other parts of the state, and a defense attorney in the Alternate Conflict Counsel Office had more to do with it than anyone else locally.

Regarding Drug Treatment on Demand - The voters passed "Prop. 36," which requires drug treatment for possessory offenses, absent limited other circumstances. So, by law defendants must receive drug treatment in many instances.

The way I see it - Paul's handlers are weaving a fairy tale around him, wrapping him in the flag and making claims like these.

At 11:05 AM, Anonymous said...

"Local Control"?

Gallegos hires out of area corporation for polling and takes out of area contributions. How surprising that once again Gallegos is speaking out of both side of his arse.

At 11:06 AM, Rose said...

Here are the questions: (note scribbled during the call, caught the gist of it)

Regarding Paul
Rank: Strongly agree, somewhat agree, Somewhat disagree, Strongly disagree

1. Violent crime has gone down while Paul is in office.
2. Politics have become unnecessarily negative
3 Non-local corporations should be prohibited from contributing to political races
4. As top law enforcement official the DA should be independent from the cops
5. We should protect the environment
6. Recall wrong?
7. Community is safer today than it was 4 years ago
8. Do you believe that crime can be prevented through drug treatment?
9. Humboldt County is too Progressive? (he defined it as mainstream when questioned)
10. DAs job to manage the office but also to prosecute
11. Regarding people and associations (positive or negative)
DDA Dikeman
Eureka Police Department
DA Paul Gallegos
Palco
Rob Arkley
Terry Farmer
12. Rate how the DA is doing his job - excellent good fair poor
13. Who do you support in the DAs race
14. How did you vote in the Recall for or against?
15. Paul has done his job since then - agree or not?
16. Statements Paul makes in the DAs race:
Leadership of the Da
No one is above the Law (Palco or tree-sitters equal)
Paul prosecutes cases unlike his predecessor
Paul brings a fresh perspective
As father of 3 young kids, Paul cares about quality of life
Under budget cuts, does more with less
More criminals going to jail now
New focus - drug court and drug treatment on demand
Taking old index cards and computerizing the information, modernizing the office
AG stats, lowest crime rate under Paul
If election held today, Dikeman or Gallegos (second chance)

Statements against Paul by Dikeman
Victim Witness
Salzman tarnished his image
Paul has a poor relationship with law enforcement
PL lawsuit a waste of time?
Grand Jury report hurt him, yes or no?
Fraud lawsuit proved Paul had an environmentalist's agenda?
Too much time in court, not enough managing the office
Unprecedented # of DAs left the office

Statements supporting Dikeman
Dikeman knows what the office needs (because he has had three years under Paul)
Dikeman work for restoration and stability in the office
Bring back experienced prosecutors
Restoration of stability seen under Farmer
Dikeman likely to be endorsed by EPD and other law enforcement
Leadership necessary to manage the office
More aggressive at prosecuting pot than Gallegos
Focus on violent crime, not white collar crime

Statements against Dikeman
showed unethical behavior by playing tape at press conference
if elected he will direct resources away from violent crime prosecution
to aggressively going after small medical marijuana grows
incorrect crime statistics released by Dikeman - is that a negative?
same people backing Dikeman that backed the Recall
Dikeman's poor prosecution record high number of trials lost
Dikeman elected, office will stop innovative new programs developed under Paul
Dikeman elected return to good old boy network


# of years you have lived in Humboldt Co?
Employed?
Political persuasion conservative, slightly conservative, progressive or liberal?

At 11:27 AM, Fred said...

Thanks for the updates, all.

They asked,"Political persuasion conservative, slightly conservative, progressive or liberal?".

What...libertarian wasn't a choice?

At 11:35 AM, Anonymous said...

Doesn't Libertarian encompass all, Fred?

At 12:08 PM, Fred said...

I guess that depends how you look at it, 1135. I like to think libertarians are in their own separate category.

BTW, all; I still wonder why they brought up Arkley in their questionnaire? How are they planning to use that info in regards to Arkley?

At 12:33 PM, Rose said...

Because Salzman is at war with Arkley.

At 12:39 PM, Anonymous said...

How do you know it was a poll done by Gallegos?

At 12:41 PM, Anonymous said...

There have been polls in the past that played this game of looking like one camp and actually being the other to create the controversy.

BTW - I don't believe there are any polling businesses in Humboldt.

At 12:47 PM, Anonymous said...

For instance, there was a poll done during the Calpine / LNG saga that sounded like it was done by the anti-LNG folks and it was certainly not.

At 1:00 PM, Fred said...

Just from the looks of the campaign finance reports, I wouldn't think Dikeman would have the money to pay for a poll.

Of course, it could always be some unknown benefactor that paid for his or her own poll.

At 1:03 PM, Anonymous said...

Yes, and that happened in Kerrigan's campaign.

At 1:13 PM, Anonymous said...

Gallegos' statement that the ER used for its article shows approximately 5000$ for polling to a place called "Bellavia Research". I checked the phone book and there is no such business listed.

My call on the Arkely question is if the person is anti arkley then the follow up would be "Paul is against the balloon tract" and if it pro-Arkley then the response is "Paul is supported by Arkley." This has got Salzman written all over it.
At 2:03 PM, Fred said...
That's what I was guessing, 1:13.

But, Rose, did you answer the question in regards to how you felt about Arkley? Did they follow up with a line, at least eventually during the conversation, as 1:13 and I were guessing they might?

If they didn't follow up on the answer, perhaps they're using the info for later action during the campaign?

I know I was watching some parts of the Democratic National Convention some years ago. They had a segment on how they did "focus groups".

They'd get Joe and Jill Sixpack, a whole bunch of them, in a room. They put biorythim(sic?) equipment on them and measured their response to how they'd react to certain political types saying things on a video. Then, they'd know what not to say, and what to say, and the way to say it, to get their message across in the most effective way.

I found that somewhat frightening, as it seemed akin to manipulation, but everyone does it. And, when you think about it, it makes sense.

If you want to sell something, find out the best way to present your sales pitch. That's what they were doing. Scary though it may seem to me.

At 2:05 PM, Anonymous said...

I notice you left out the name of the person who gave the 10K to the DA. "...retired New Mexico resident Orlando Gallegos". Gee, why does that name sound so familiar? Good think you didn't include that FACT in your coverage or it might not have fit in with your "agenda".

Life must be great when you are not encumbered by the truth.

At 2:08 PM, Anonymous said...

I think that "Paul" uses "Orlando" to launder his "dirty" money. Last time didn't he launder it thru you Richard?

At 2:13 PM, Fred said...

Actually, 2:05, I missed that. I don't recall seeing the name. If I would have noticed it, I would have included it. Makes no difference to me.

Not encumbered by the truth? Nope, seems to me the fact remains that Gallegos claims to want local control of elections but he took his biggest contribution to date from someone who lives out of state.

I don't care if he's family, or not. And while I'm sympathetic to the idea of local control, this is exactly the point: He can take money from someone out of state, albeit family, but him and others are trying to make sure that certain others can't.

I don't have a problem with Gallegos taking money from out of state, whether it be from family or some corporation. He just shouldn't advocate others not be able to do the same.

So there. I sure told you! :-)

At 2:21 PM, Anonymous said...

Fred: you are the voice of reason. Thank you. Anon 2:05 didn't pay enough attention to what you wrote - guess he can't see past his own biases. Me, I got it and you are right. If you are on the "local control/local money" band wagon - best not get approximately 53% of your money from out of town and out of state.

At 5:05 PM, Rose said...

Fred, I wasn't the one who got the call, but I will ask my friend who did. The only comment I had so far from my friend was that the pollsters reference to Arkley was negative as was the reference Terry Farmer. They didn't mention any follow up except "Now I'll give you a second chance - if the election were held today..." and that the overall tone was more as if they were trying ot lead you and persuade you than really ask what you think.

But I will follow up on your question and get back to you.

At 9:34 AM, Anonymous said...

What was Partain trying to say? His first paragraph and final paragraph are opposing statements.

At 10:27 AM, Anonymous said...

I guess Partain is saying that while he wants to be hopeful that sooner or later there’s going to be a clean and friendly political campaign - he admits that clean politics is just a pipe dream given that many of those who use it as a "chant" really don't mean it. That it is simply talk with most local democrats - I'd have to add the republicans and greens to this mix to be fair. The fact is that Dirty Politics and empty words are not confined to any one party.

At 5:09 PM, Rose said...

"His father, Orlando Gallegos..." (North Coast Journal - Feb. 19, 2004) apparently lives in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. In other words he does not live in Humbodlt County.

Under Measure T - Local corporations are defined as those in which all employees live in the county, all stock shares are owned within the county and both corporate headquarters and the primary place of business are in the county.

Local labor and nonprofit organizations are also exempt under the measure. Only one union member is required to live in the county for it to qualify as local; nonprofit board members must all reside in the county.

So-o-o-o-o the champion of the anti non-local corporations hires a big non-local polling Corporation as the first order of business for his campaign and takes his largest contribution from non-local family members.

Interesting.

At 5:11 PM, Rose said...

credit:
Under Measure T - Local corporations are defined as those in which all employees live in the county, all stock shares are owned within the county and both corporate headquarters and the primary place of business are in the county.

Local labor and nonprofit organizations are also exempt under the measure. Only one union member is required to live in the county for it to qualify as local; nonprofit board members must all reside in the county.
Eureka Reporter http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=8768

At 6:09 PM, Anonymous said...

Why in hell would you have a problem with a canidate who accepts money from a family member? Do they really need to live in the area? Can't they simply support their relatives?

Rose, you are unbelieveable! You can't resist can you?

At 6:28 PM, Bill G said...

Well, anonymous....if my brother and I owned a corporation and he was a salesman in Oregon and the rest of us worked here, our corp we then be non-local, wouldn't it.....I think that is the point.

At 8:48 PM, Rose said...

That is the point. bill g has it right. 100%

At 10:17 PM, Rose said...

The Push Poll "format, according to the book, “The Polling and The Public,” by Herbert Asher, is “a telemarketing technique in which telephone calls are used to canvas potential voters, feeding them false or misleading ‘information’about a candidate under the pretense of taking a poll to see how this ‘information’ affects voter preferences.

“The intent is to disseminate campaign propaganda under the guise of conducting a legitimate public opinion poll,” wrote Asher.

The National Council on Public Polls warns that such push polls are used not to collect information, but to “spread rumors and even outright lies about opponents.

“These efforts are not polls, but political manipulation trying to hide behind the smokescreen of a public opinion survey.”

“‘Push polls’ are unethical and have been condemned by professional polling organizations,” states the council on its Web site."

Pollsters Push Ratner Arena
by Jess Wisloski
March 26, 2005
The Brooklyn Papers

At 10:56 PM, Rose said...

NCPP - National Council on Public Polls
How to determine if poll results are honest and useful. From the National Council on Public Polls.
www.ncpp.org/qajsa.htm

20 Questions A Journalist Should Ask About Poll Results
http://www.ncpp.org/qajsa.htm

http://www.ncpp.org/qajsa.htm#16

16. What about "push polls?"
In recent years, some political campaigns and special-interest groups have used a technique called "push polls" to spread rumors and even outright lies about opponents. These efforts are not polls, but political manipulation trying to hide behind the smokescreen of a public opinion survey.

In a "push poll," a large number of people are called by telephone and asked to participate in a purported survey. The survey "questions" are really thinly-veiled accusations against an opponent or repetitions of rumors about a candidate’s personal or professional behavior. The focus here is on making certain the respondent hears and understands the accusation in the question, not in gathering the respondent’s opinions.

"Push polls" are unethical and have been condemned by professional polling organizations.

"Push polls" must be distinguished from some types of legitimate surveys done by political campaigns. At times, a campaign poll may ask a series of questions about contrasting issue positions of the candidates – or various things that could be said about a candidate, some of which are negative. These legitimate questions seek to gauge the public’s reaction to a candidate’s position or to a possible legitimate attack on a candidate’s record.

A legitimate poll can be distinguished from a "push poll" usually by:

The number of calls made – a push poll makes thousands and thousands of calls, instead of hundreds for most surveys; The identity of who is making the telephone calls – a polling firm for a scientific survey as opposed to a telemarketing house or the campaign itself for a "push poll;" The lack of any true gathering of results in a "push poll," which has as its only objective the dissemination of false or misleading information.

At 11:27 PM, Rose said...

Or - Push poll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_poll
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A push poll is a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll. Push polls are generally viewed as a form of negative campaigning. ...Push polling has been condemned by the American Association of Political Consultants....

The main advantage of push polls is that they are an effective way of maligning an opponent ("pushing" voters away) while avoiding responsibility for the distorted or false information used in the push poll. They are risky for the same reason: if credible evidence emerges that the polls were ordered by a campaign, it would do serious damage to that campaign. ... push polls are most effective in elections with fewer voters, such as party primaries, or in close elections where a relatively small change in votes can mean victory or loss.

At 9:43 AM, robash141 said...

Why would anyonre believe third hand hearsay from the likes Jerry Partain anyway the guy is a straight-up partisan hack ..You got to love a guy rails against govenment spending but draws a fat pension from the state..

At 10:14 AM, Anonymous said...

Hardly third-hand hearsay, robash, Gallegos paid for the poll.

At 1:30 PM, robash141 said...

What proof do you have that Gallegos paid for the poll? It could just as easly be a reverse push poll in which Arkley is paying phone bankers to claim they are polling on behalf of Gallegos and being obnoxious All you got is some third hand gossip allegation by some contemptable old partisan hack like Jerry Partain.
Don't tell me Partain doesn't have an axe to grind...

At 3:09 PM, Anonymous said...

Have you read the questions, robash?

At 3:12 PM, Bill G said...

Also, "Gallegos has spent almost $5,000 on polling and survey research." From the TS Article.

At 3:14 PM, Rose said...

"Nichols said the polling was done strictly for “research purposes.” Eureka Reporter 3/25/2006

At 7:28 PM, Rose said...

Fred, my friend said there was no particular emphasis on Arkley, that he was grouped in with others that one would expect Gallegos' handlers to deem "negative." But that the long drawn out explanations were about Gallegos. And, again, that they offered "second chances" and "last chance" to see if they had changed her mind.

At 10:16 PM, robash141 said...

I smell a rat! I think its a sleazy set up by anti Gallegos people. Im sure Arkely could afford spend to hire obnoxious push pollers top harrass unsuspecting citizens on "on behalf" of Paul Gallegos.

There is also the distinct possibility that Partains daughter and Rose's friend are exagerating

Furthermore, Jerry Partain can sling mud with the best of them. Ive seen Partain be totally insulting and demeaning to people who disagree with him So his whining about How he wishes there were civil campaigns is totally bogus He just wishes everyone would just knuckle under to his radical right wing agenda

This is straight out of the Karl Rove dirty politics handbook. and Arkey no doubt, admires Rove and I think ,Arkely is a much more likely suspect

At 5:37 AM, Fred said...

Robash; Here's the relevant portion of a recent Eureka Reporter article dated 3/25:

"In the FOPG’s statement, the second-highest expenditure made since Jan. 1 was approximately $5,588 to Bellavia Research for polling and survey research and fundraising."

"Nichols said the polling was done strictly for “research purposes.”

“Our poll confirmed that a majority of Humboldt residents think Paul is doing a great job and are impressed with his success of taking violent criminals off our streets and reducing violent crime rates in Humboldt County,” she said. “The failed recall definitely taught us that there are special interests willing to spend potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to overturn the will of the voters. We’re not going to let that happen.”

"While the address for Bellavia Research, Julie Francis was listed with a McKinleyville address, no listing for the agency appears in the SBC phone book."

"Nichols said she did not want to provide specifics about the polling, but said it was something the campaign is pleased it did and that it doesn’t plan to do again."

You can read the entire article at
http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=9457

Interesting that they gave a Mckinleyville address to Belavia Research to make the agency appear local. That might well be illegal.

At 6:22 AM, Anonymous said...

And if you "google" that name Julie Francis, you'll find she is a strategy and website usability consultant, married to an attorney with offices in Eureka, and Berkeley...so who is Bellavia?

At 6:28 AM, Fred said...

I believe Bellavia Research is the outfit that did the actual polling.

At 7:07 AM, Fred said...

And this just in from the Times- Standard confirming the Eureka Reporter story, pretty much settles the issue, seems to me, as to who was responsible for the polling:

http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3643711

So; who was responsible for the polling, is no longer an issue.

At 4:59 PM, mresquan said...

Let's see 216 in an area code in Ohio.Why would team Gallegos care to bother with them?

At 5:13 PM, Rose said...
No, Pacific Crest Research did the polling.
At 10:18 PM, Anonymous said...

Gallegos is caught with his pants down and robash141 wants to blame it on Partain. O-K then.

At 7:23 AM, robash141 said...

IMO Partain is still a thoughoughly dishonest partisan stooge who would not hestitate to make up something in order to smear a political enemy. I couldn't care less what some sneaky person who doesn't have enough courage to put their name beside their opinion thinks..

At 4:59 PM, Anonymous said...

robash141: thank you for continuing to post so we all the vast number of your brain cells that you have killed.

And the push polls are unethical and dishonest and so Gallegos.

At 11:42 PM, risky said...

i wouldn't act so surprised about a survey used to attack the opponent. didn't chris kerrigan have a pollster ask about his pipe incident and about rex bohn's role in a cocaine-linked bar in the 80's? salzman was still involved with chris back then.

what i really want to see is some apology from gallegos for selling his donor list to the corporation freaks pushing measure t. of course that's if it wasn't stolen in the first place by michael twombly.

At 7:52 AM, Anonymous said...

It wasn't stolen, it was given to them because Gallegos can't run on his record so he is running on something that has nothing to do with the DA's office - that something is measure T. He needs it to be his "orwellian chant" in order to avoid the issues.

At 4:41 PM, robash141 said...

Hey there was a commentary in the Eureka Reporter That said pretty much the same thing
That Partain is a crank and his word can't be trusted..