by Christine Bensen The Eureka Reporter
12/10/03
Photo submitted by Ted Kirby
Richard Salzman, campaign manager for the Friends of Paul Gallegos poses with FOPG spokesmen Patrick Riggs and John Ford at the First Saturday Night Arts Alive! event held at the FOPG Headquarters.
Richard Salzman, campaign manager for the Friends of Paul Gallegos and an artist representative who helps publicize and sell artists works for advertising and other purposes, moved to Humboldt County in January 2000. He said he first heard Paul Gallegos in a 2002 radio debate with then Humboldt County District Attorney Terry Farmer.
“I liked very much what he had to say,” he said.
Salzman said he noticed right away that Gallegos didn’t seem to be a “seasoned politician” and called Gallegos with some suggestions for his next debate.
After meeting Gallegos, Salzman said he liked him and what he stood for and joined his campaign for the last six weeks before the election.
Patrick Riggs, Alice Birney Elementary School second-grade teacher, has lived in Humboldt County for 20 years and is one of the spokesmen for the Friends of Paul Gallegos.
“The FOPG is the political action committee formed under … (the) Fair Political Practices Commission to run Paul’s campaign to keep him in office,” he said.
Riggs said people began discussing the idea in late spring and FOPG was officially established in July.
Riggs said he feels the FOPG is worth his effort. The recall election, he said, will determine whether the people of Humboldt County will make the decision that will affect their future or if they will let the “Maxxam-owned Pacific Lumber Co.” make the decision for them.
Eureka Realtor John Ford, one of the spokesmen and fund-raising chairman for FOPG and an associate of the Humboldt County Republican Central Committee, has lived in Humboldt County for more than two years.
Ford said Gallegos and his wife were some of the first people he and his wife met when they moved here and one of the first things he noticed about Gallegos was how important his family is to him.
“We’re both family oriented; that means a lot to me,” Ford said.
He said he started getting involved with the FOPG because of the “whole David and Goliath aspect.”
Ford said someone involved in the timber industry told Gallegos The Pacific Lumber Co. had committed fraud and after they presented proof, “Paul went for it.”
He said it wasn’t until after the lawsuit was filed that people started talking about the need for a recall.
“We have a democratically elected District Attorney who is clearly doing the job he was elected to do,” Riggs said. “It is not about Paul Gallegos as an individual -- it is about principles.”
Salzman said Gallegos’ strong belief that all people are equal under the law is inspiring.
“It shouldn’t seem like an original concept,” he said.
Riggs said the recall drive started after Gallegos filed the lawsuit against The Pacific Lumber Co. and PL’s funding helped keep it going.
“We have a situation where a corporation is trying to remove a publicly elected official who is trying to prosecute them,” he said.
Riggs said if a bank robber were trying to do the same thing people would not take it seriously. He said the issue is about “preserving democracy here in Humboldt County.”
Ford likens the recall to a person who receives a speeding ticket and tries to get the police officer who wrote it fired.
The point is that no one is above the law, Riggs said.
He said this is about America and the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
“Everyone should stand as an equal before the law,” Riggs said.
“Everything we’ve seen him doing are things he’d talked about (before he was elected),” Salzman said.
“It’s surprising how many people will step up and support you,” Ford said.
He said he believes local media is somewhat responsible for making people think the issue is black and white among community residents.
Ford said he knows many people with varying political beliefs who are against the recall. He said part of the reason he was chosen to be one of the spokesmen was to create some “diversity” in look and political affiliation.
“It’s not as divided as people think,” Ford said.
Ford said for now he is focusing on his fund-raising responsibilities “arraigning fund-raisers, different parties and events.”
He said after March 2 he plans to start helping with the 2006 re-election campaign for Gallegos.
Riggs said the possibility of keeping the FOPG going after the March 2 recall election has been discussed, but no decision has been made.
“Hopefully on March 2 we can have a party and go back to our normal lives,” he said.
“The idea that he can inspire so many people … it’s something we’d like to see more of in elected officials,” Salzman said.
“(The FOPG has) no other intention than to keep a decent, honest person in office,” Riggs said. “The man is doing the job he was elected to do -- there’s no question about that.”
For more information about the Friends of Paul Gallegos visit www.votegallegos.org.
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