McK Press - D.A. challenger's intense criticism dominates forum

D.A. challenger's intense criticism dominates forum
By Daniel Mintz, Press Staff Writer, McKinleyville Press

The district attorney candidate who's seeking his incumbent boss' job unleashed bare-fisted criticism in the bitter election's first candidates forum, setting the tone of a rapidly escalating contest.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos is viewed by supporters as an ethical law enforcement statesman who does the right thing. But his challenger, Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman, is one of the last veteran attorneys remaining in the D.A.'s office since Gallegos' 2002 election and he's saying that disruption is his opponent's first term legacy.

And Dikeman's sharp swipes provided the most attention-getting moments of the Republican Central Committee's Thursday, April 13, D.A. candidates forum at OH's Townhouse in Eureka. Consisting mostly of prepared questions that each candidate had been given in advance, the structured format didn't sway Dikeman's focus - he's made it clear that he's running because he thinks his boss is inexperienced, minimally competent and lacking D.A.-caliber leadership skill.

The contrast between Dikeman's almost paternal admonitions and Gallegos' dryly-read replies to the questions was the forum's most noticeable feature, with the challenger continuing to define the election as a means of restoring credible authority.
Worth: D.A. doesn't get it

Before answering questions prepared by a team of attorneys and read by committee members Johanna Rodoni and Mike Harvey and North Coast Journal Editor Hank Sims, the candidates read opening statements, with Dikeman starting.

And his edgy dismissals of his boss were immediate. "Four years ago the voters elected a district attorney with no experience and no record as a prosecutor - well he has one now," Dikeman began. "And that record reveals that he doesn't understand the position he has or the responsibilities that come with it."

References to Gallegos' fraud lawsuit against the Pacific Lumber Company, his short-circuited attempt to prosecute Fortuna Councilwoman Debi August and his being fined by the state's Fair Political Practices Commission followed, with Dikeman telling the dining audience that Gallegos is influenced by special interests and motivated by personal beefs and favoritism.

Continuing a checklist of Gallegos shortcomings, Dikeman said the D.A. broke a campaign promise to establish civil service protection for the office's attorneys, has created a poor working environment and failed to keep drug enforcement units and child abuse services teams fully staffed.

Finally, Dikeman described Gallegos as a maverick D.A who's had rifts with county government and police agencies. Dikeman concluded by emphasizing his own qualifications, including Vietnam-era military service and longtime experience as a prosecutor.

Police disfavor

Later, when asked if a civilian police review board is necessary, both candidates said no, with Gallegos explaining that he maintains independence from police and will not seek endorsements from them.

Dikeman said Gallegos' high road attitude on police endorsements has more to do with political convenience than independence. "I think he doesn't seek the support of law enforcement because he knows they are familiar with the job that he's done and the results he's obtained," he told the audience. "And he thinks that if he asks them for an endorsement, he's not going to get it."

Then they were asked about the legal action that spawned an unsuccessful D.A. recall attempt and defined Gallegos' political identity - the Pacific Lumber fraud lawsuit. It was dismissed last year, but Gallegos has filed an appeal and he said "we will continue to prosecute them because we have evidence that they committed fraud."

But Dikeman said the D.A.'s own investigators found that the company was negligent, not deceitful, when it submitted incorrect data during the negotiations that led to the 1999 Headwaters Deal. "That was a case that was brought to us by a special interest group," said Dikeman, referring to the involvement of environmentalists.

Closing statements featured Gallegos' citing of positive crime statistics, including reductions in violent crime and increases in incarceration. But Dikeman asked why jailings are up if crime has gone down, and said that the D.A. has failed to gain support from the police and law enforcement staffers "who must suffer his leadership."

'Prioritize violent crime'

Gallegos' opening statement didn't respond to the perhaps unexpected criticisms of Dikeman's, and instead focused on the violent crime and jailing statistics. He said the former has dipped to unprecedented low levels, while the latter has noticeably risen since he took office.

Budget cuts happened at the same time, Gallegos continued, upholding the favorable stats as proof of his ability to make improvements despite financial challenges. He also read off a series of numbers that represent increases in drug-related asset forfeitures (property confiscations whose profits go to police agencies), saying "these increases are greatly needed during times of budget cuts."

Gallegos reiterated that violent crime rates during his tenure have dropped to the lowest levels in 15 years. "I am extremely proud of this because it is one of the things I set out to do - prioritize violent crime," he said, adding that another source of pride is his technological update of the office's records system.

Cops and politics

Gallegos has gotten a key endorsement from state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and his gaining of approval from the county's Democratic Central Committee and Assemblymember Patty Berg will also be influential.

Dikeman will get endorsements from local police, however, and later, during an unscripted audience question and answer session, both men were asked about police support.

Apparently nodding to past spats with the Eureka Police, Gallegos explained that both he and the cops move on and put politics aside to do the work that needs to be done. "Despite all the rancor that people hear about in the press, we know and we are committed to doing our job," he said. Then he mentioned Dikeman's dual status as a subordinate employee and election opponent, saying "there's plenty of rancor, I understand that I have a job to do and he's got a hand to play, but we're going to get this done and continue working at our jobs."