Letters to the Editor

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).

Paul Gallegos does a fine job, despite all his detractors

Dear Editor,

Paul Gallegos has done a fine job as district attorney, in spite of the unprecedented attack upon him by the reigning powers of the past in the form of a recall attempt, which the voters here soundly beat.

With almost the same staff of attorneys as the previous DA, and despite budget cuts, he has led them to a better record of prosecutions of the usual crimes, and has put the corporate powers in the form of MAXXAM on notice that they are not outside the reach of the law — something that his predecessor was loath to do. He deserves our support and our vote, so he and we can continue forward.

Dikeman being propped up again as a local hero

Dear Editor,

Evidently Humboldt County’s ruling class was all aflutter when Paul Gallegos was elected DA. Fearful that our county would plunge into a state of lawlessness, they decided to engage in a little South American politics — a junta. We rubes here on the home front were told it was a recall election.

Worth Dikeman was propped up as the people’s choice to replace Gallegos if the recall succeeded. Election time has rolled around again and Dikeman is back, reprising his role as the local hero who can stem the insidious crime wave that has gripped our county.

I, for one, am grateful. It’s just not safe around here anymore. Oh, how I long for halcyon days when the Ingomar set ran things and we all knew our role.

Native Americans, use voting clout to keep Dikeman out of DA office

Dear Editor,

Draconian theories that Native American’s may not be suitable for the jury pool because of cultural beliefs are just nonsense.

Yes, there’s a history here. Yes, there are incidents of racism where Indians were excluded from the jury pool based on the court records. And yes, Dikeman is not as forthcoming as he should have been on his statements to the media regarding this issue.

The Indian vote is growing stronger in Humboldt County. That’s good, and it positions reservation communities to demand more from the District Attorney’s office and other political leaders. More Native Americans voting will serve to increase the momentum, pride and power of the Indian voice in Humboldt County.

With same resources as previous DA, Gallegos has done a better job

Dear Editor,

Paul Gallegos has done a fine job as district attorney, in spite of the unprecedented attack upon him by the reigning powers of the past in the form of a recall attempt, which the voters here soundly beat.

He deserves our support and our vote, so he and we can continue forward.With almost the same staff of attorneys as the previous DA, and despite budget cuts, he has led them to a better record of prosecutions of the usual crimes, and has put the corporate powers in the form of Maxxam on notice that they are not outside the reach of the law — something that his predecessor was loath to do. He deserves our support and our vote, so he and we can continue forward.

The people with the guns shouldn't be electing officials

Dear Editor,

Didn’t we just do this two years ago?

As the election approaches I stop to ask myself why law enforcement officers and a deputy DA think it should be up to them who is DA and not who we, the voters, chose to elect. Outside interests? Perhaps some other agenda that drives them?

Well guess what? It is not up to you; it is up to us. You know why? Because in a democracy, it is the voters who choose their government officials.We elected Paul. They rejected the will of the voters and, like little babies, cried, screamed, threw a tantrum and filed a recall. No, no, we don’t want him for our boss! Well guess what? It is not up to you; it is up to us. You know why? Because in a democracy, it is the voters who choose their government officials. Having the people with the guns choose them would be what they do in banana republics (or dictatorships) and (while) Humboldt County sometimes acts like it is one, and as much as some law enforcement officers like to treat it as one, it’s not. Don’t get me wrong, law enforcement officers regularly cover (themselves) in glory and are overworked and underpaid. But when their representatives band together for what reasons to oust a DA that the people of Humboldt County want, it just makes me wonder.