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.

At one point, Gallegos -- flush with good news from the polls that while not yet calling the race, showed strong momentum his way, stretched out his arms and shouted into the crowd.

”The pandemonium!” Gallegos said.

When absentee results, which were posted minutes after the polls closed, showed Dikeman ahead, the mood at O-H's Townhouse was cautious optimism.

Police officials from a number of different agencies were in attendance at Dikeman's party, anxiously waiting for the latest numbers.

When Dikeman fell behind, with 84 percent of the votes in, the mood became somber and people began trickling out, wishing Dikeman well.

Regardless of the results, Dikeman already had plans for today.

”I plan on being in court at 8:30,” Dikeman said.

Across town at the Lost Coast Brewery, the scene was different with loud music blaring and party-goers whooping it up.

”For the third time in a row, the people have said they want Gallegos in there," Bob Ornelas, former Arcata mayor.

Both candidates are Democrats, but it may have been the Republicans who swung the vote Gallegos' way.

”There's a lot of Republicans that voted for Gallegos,” said John Ford, Republican Realtor.