TS - Stoen's exit a good move

Stoen's exit a good move
By The Times-Standard
Article Last Updated: Friday, July 01, 2005 - 6:15:59 AM PST

While Wednesday's announcement that the district attorney's high-profile prosecutor Tim Stoen was heading back to Mendocino took some by surprise, the handwriting had been on the wall for weeks. And many, perhaps tired of all the varied

"He's been on my wish list. We've discussed our vision, our ability to work together, and without a doubt he is the most qualified person for the job. It's going to be a wonderful thing for this community."

One can only speculate on exactly what went wrong, but Stoen's odd penchant for unnecessarily alienating other attorneys, area officials, the media and even judges appeared to undermine the DA's larger vision for his tenure. For a variety of reasons, it certainly wasn't "a wonderful thing."

On Wednesday, Gallegos appeared weary and almost thankful that the Stoen saga was drawing to a close:

"It was time for Tim to go," he said. "Tim had some other plans and he's gone. Tim's a good prosecutor and he's been a good friend. I know he'll do a good job down there."

Stoen himself was philosophical and realistic, noting that he had become a liability for Gallegos in the DA's expected upcoming re-election run.

"Paul fell on a few swords for me, why shouldn't I fall on a sword for him," Stoen said.

The comment underscores Stoen's basic integrity in holding to his own beliefs, and that's to his credit.

But for one reason or another -- including his actions 30 years ago and much more recently -- Tim Stoen was just a poor fit for Humboldt County. He's better served by heading back to Mendocino.

Paul Gallegos, freed from this particular distraction, can gear up for what's likely to be another bruising election fight. It's unfair that much of his first term -- and whatever he might have wanted to accomplish -- was undermined by the recall attempt.

But that's in the past. His future will be up to Humboldt County's voters.