ER - Salzman: Nothing more than a Machiavellian misfit - 9/2/2005

Salzman: Nothing more than a Machiavellian misfit

9/2/2005

Thanks to the courage and solid reporting of the North Coast Journal, the real Richard Salzman has begun to be exposed.

Salzman, who has portrayed himself as a champion of the “little guy” and as a savvy behind-the-scenes political adviser who helped District Attorney Paul Gallegos climb the ladder to a powerful position in the county, has had his fortunes turn thanks to the North Coast Journal.

Through an in-depth investigation, the Journal determined that Salzman wrote letters to the editor under assumed names.

Those letters were published in The Eureka Reporter, the North Coast Journal, the Times-Standard and possibly other newspapers in the county using fictitious names and attacking political opponents. Occasionally, he used his own name. Regrettably, some of the letters were published in The Eureka Reporter.

We can only guess at Salzman’s true motives, but it would be nice if he answered the phone. We just want to ask him some questions, such as “why did you do it?”

Saying on Thursday he did not advocate what Salzman did, Gallegos at first did not seem too bothered by Salzman’s antics and noted that such letters have been penned by others for many years. But that’s just not good enough. The truth matters, Paul. You should know that in your line of work.

Gallegos persisted and said, “I have not read the North Coast Journal article. However, I know Richard. I have no intention of distancing myself from him.”

Later, Gallegos started distancing himself from Salzman, saying, “I cannot and do not condone unlawful conduct nor do I condone deceit.”

Salzman also worked on the campaign of Eureka City Councilman Chris Kerrigan, who has already distanced himself from Salzman. Admirably, Kerrigan said, “Writing letters under a false name is wrong and jeopardizes public trust. I hope Richard Salzman realizes this and this practice will cease in the future.”

We urge Gallegos to follow Kerrigan’s lead. Such public deceit can do nothing but harm the consensus-building and dialogue that our community needs.

We apologize to our readers and those who were attacked by Salzman’s letters.

As a result of Salzman’s deception, The Eureka Reporter will institute a new letter and guest opinion policy that will be much tougher to evade.

However, it means that less letters and guest opinions will run, which is the real crime in what Salzman has done. He has dampened the ability of the public to comment on contemporary issues.

The Machiavellian misfit has taken away something precious on the North Coast and now casts a light of suspicion on all letter writers, past and present, which is another unfortunate legacy of the master manipulator.

Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.