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My Word: We're on our way to justice for all

Four years ago we challenged ourselves to build a community that is courageous, compassionate and flexible enough to meet the demands of all of its people; to create an independent District Attorney's office that is more effective, responsive and accountable to the people of the Humboldt County and that focuses not on punishment -- but on community safety and crime prevention; and to bring meaning to the phrase “Justice for All.”

This has not been an easy challenge. On June 6, we are, once again, faced with the question of whether we have the courage and can sustain the commitment to uphold these ideas. Because change is coming to Humboldt County whether we want it or not. While we can affect the character of that change, we cannot affect its inevitability.

Chesbro endorses Gallegos

EUREKA -- State Sen. Wesley Chesbro has endorsed the re-election of District Attorney Paul Gallegos.

”Paul Gallegos has served the people of Humboldt County well and I am pleased to offer my endorsement,” said Chesbro.

Gallegos, who is being challenged by Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman, responded with gratitude.

“I consider Chesbro's endorsement particularly special because Wes has represented our community with such integrity both locally and in Sacramento,” he said. “He knows the people of the North Coast and we know him.”

Gallegos has already been endorsed by

Democrats overwhelmingly vote to endorse Gallegos

After initially divided testimony from registered Democrats on whether the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee should endorse District Attorney Paul Gallegos in his bid for re-election, Central Committee members overwhelmingly voted in the affirmative.

The discussion continued well into Wednesday night, but the results were clearly conclusive: 20 members voted to endorse, while one voted against and one abstained.

Greg Conners, chairperson of the Central Committee’s subcommittee on campaign services, which brought the recommendation forward, said that the strength of the vote spoke favorably to Gallegos’ record.

Democrats endorse Gallegos

EUREKA -- The Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee has voted to endorse incumbent Paul Gallegos in the race for Humboldt County district attorney.

Both the incumbent and the challenger spoke before the committee in March in order to solicit the central committee's endorsement.

According to a prepared statement, committee members have spent the past month reviewing the issues involved in the race as well as the propriety of making such an endorsement. The results of this research led to the nearly unanimous vote of 20 to one.

”We respected our process and did our homework,” said Chairman Patrick Riggs. “This exemplifies the thoughtful and thorough approach committee members take to their work.”

Dikeman, Gallegos square off

Local GOP hears DA candidates offer their sides

EUREKA — Scores of Humboldt County Republicans heard two Democrats battle for the title of Humboldt County District Attorney Thursday night at OH's Townhouse.

The forum, put on by the Humboldt County Republican Central Committee, featured a broad range of questions posed both by the crowd, as well as a bevy of local attorneys.

During the debate, challenger and deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman tried to pin his boss and incumbent District Attorney Paul Gallegos down with accusations of poor leadership and bad decisions.

Gallegos, meanwhile, defended a record that he said has seen crime drop substantially across the board while dealing with budget cuts and staff reductions.

Candidates Gallegos, Dikeman field questions in first forum

The attendees, who ranged in political affiliation, appeared to be split as to which candidate they have already decided to support.

Questions came from local attorneys Bill Barnum, David Crane, Manny Daskal and Andy Stunich, who Mike Harvey, the local Republican Central Committee’s second vice chair, said had varied views.

In his opening statement, Dikeman said when Gallegos first came into office he was inexperienced. Gallegos now has experience, he said.

“That record reveals that he doesn’t understand the position he’s in or how to use it,” he said. “I too have a record, but that record revolves around excellency.”

Attorney General Bill Lockyer endorses Gallegos for DA

EUREKA -- State Attorney General Bill Lockyer recently announced his endorsement of Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos for re-election.

”According to our office's Criminal Justice Statistics Center, since you took office in 2003, violent crime in Humboldt County has dropped to its lowest rate in 15 years,” said a letter from the Attorney General's Office. “I sincerely congratulate you and your office for the contribution you have made toward this major accomplishment, especially in an era of severe budget cuts and staff reductions.”

Lockyer said Gallegos has a record of supporting equal justice for all.

Bill Lockyer endorses Gallegos

On Tuesday, California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer endorsed Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos.

In a letter to Gallegos, Lockyer cited the drop in violent crime, a commitment to fair and equal enforcement of laws and his “great record in winning cases as a courtroom prosecutor” as reasons that he is “truly making the streets and neighborhoods of Humboldt County safer.”

“Best wishes to you and to the voters of Humboldt County, who have an opportunity to re-elect one of California’s finest district attorneys,” Lockyer wrote. “Please let me know if I can help you in your effort to make Humboldt County a safer and fairer place to live, work and raise a family.”

Dikeman decries 'backroom' Dem endorsement

EUREKA – Democratic Endorsements of District Attorney Paul Gallegos' re-election are being questioned by his opponent, Senior Prosecutor Worth Dikeman, who's said they're the product of political bias and will make an already contentious election more divisive.

The highstakes DA election will intensify as the June 6 vote nears. And Gallegos has earned a key endorsement from Assemblymember Patty Berg, and will probably get another one this week, when the county's influential Democratic Central Committee votes on a subcommittee recommendation to name Gallegos as the group's pick.

In a series of newspaper columns and letters, Dikeman has described the endorsements as the spoils of the influence of Gallegos' campaign supporters. The role of Democratic Committee Chairman Patrick Riggs has been criticized by Dikeman. He's highlighted Riggs' participation in the campaign to fend off the recall and co-leadership of the progressive and pro-Gallegos Local Solutions political action group.

Gallegos poll accusations way off base

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.”