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Paul Gallegos Wins Re-Election

For the third time in four years, Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos wins approval of voters.

Eureka, CA - In a close race that lasted late into the evening, Gallegos defeated challenger Worth Dikeman, who had overwhelming support of law enforcement in a campaign that has been labeled among the most bitter in Humboldt County history.

The relationship between the DA’s office and law enforcement was a central issue during the campaign. Gallegos, who did not seek endorsement by law enforcement, cited rules by the American Bar Association that state “prosecutors should take care to avoid any relationships with the police that might cast doubt on the independence and integrity of the office of the prosecutor.”

Gallegos Wins

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos spent Tuesday evening with approximately 200 of his supporters at the Lost Coast Brewery celebrating his third election victory in the past four years.

With 98.5 percent of precincts in the county reporting, the elections office said Gallegos had 52.6 percent of the votes, while his opponent Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman had approximately 48 percent.

“I feel good, I feel tired, I’m grateful for the people of Humboldt County and I am looking forward to getting back to work,” said Gallegos in a telephone interview from his victory party shortly after midnight.

Gallegos heads for DA win

EUREKA -- It looks like Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos will get another four years as the county's top cop.

In the bitterest race in the June election, Gallegos had 53 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman, with 94 percent of the vote counted at press time.

Over the last few weeks the candidates traded jabs, with accusations of lying, office mismanagement and the issue of the relationship of the DA's office with law enforcement agencies.

Scores of Gallegos and Measure T supporters crammed into the second floor of the Lost Coast Brewery on Tuesday night, initially cautiously optimistic. Later, as results began to trickle in, the crowd became electrified, buzzing with what seemed like an assured win.

Results to be broadcast on local radio

Residents will be able to hear the election results as they come in tonight with local radio stations KHUM-FM 104.3 and 104.7 and KSLG-FM 94.1 . As the Humboldt County Elections Office announces results in the races for district attorney and Humboldt County Board of Supervisors as well as Measure T, both radio stations will broadcast the information. Results in the gubernatorial primaries and state measures will also be provided.

Both sides getting out the vote

With the clock ticking to the end of the June 6 election, the heads of campaigns for Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos and his opponent, Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman, are asking supporters to join them in celebration after they vote.

“We’ve got people who are going to be working really hard on getting out the vote; if people need to get to the polls we’ll definitely find them a ride … and we’ll also be calling voters and encouraging people to get out a vote,” said Alison Sterling Nichols, Gallegos’ campaign manager.

Dikeman is clearly 'in bed' with local law enforcement

Dear Editor,

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

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

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

Gallegos dealt with resentment from day one in office

Dear Editor,

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

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

Dikeman lost reader's trust during the recall campaign

Dear Editor,

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

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

Dear Editor,

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

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

Dikeman's proximity to law enforcement is disturbing

Dear Editor,

If I was asked to cite only one reason I am voting for Paul Gallegos instead of his challenger, Worth Dikeman, it would probably be Mr. Dikeman’s response to Mr. Gallegos’ second debate reading of what seems to me a very innocuous and commonsense principle from the American Bar Association Standards for Criminal Justice: “prosecutors should take care to avoid any relationships with the police that might cast doubt on the independence and integrity of the office of the prosecutor.”

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