ER - Salzman exposed: Local newspapers reveal real names of letter writ

Salzman exposed: Local newspapers reveal real names of letter writers
by Diane M. Batley, 9/2/2005

The Eureka Reporter and other local newspapers have unintentionally printed letters to the editor and a guest opinion from people using false names.

Now the names of some of the letter writers who were trying to remain anonymous are beginning to be exposed.

Letters signed by R. Trent Williams and Dick Wyatt were actually written by political figure Richard Salzman, according to information in Thursday’s North Coast Journal.

In Salzman’s letters to the editor that were signed R. Trent Williams and printed in The Eureka Reporter, Salzman is supportive of District Attorney Paul Gallegos in a June 1 letter titled “District attorney critics warming up for campaign” and of Arcata’s “liberal politics” in a May 25 letter titled “Stick to business, and leave the politics to politicians.”

Salzman has written opinions on many topics in the letters to the editor written under his name and under false names.

What is not yet known is why Salzman didn’t write all of his letters under his own name.

Salzman has been an adviser for the campaigns of Gallegos, Eureka City Councilman Chris Kerrigan and County Supervisor Jill Geist.

On Thursday morning, Gallegos stated in an e-mail that he was not aware that Salzman had written letters to the editor under a false name.

“I was not aware of it, would not have done it and do not advocate it,” Gallegos stated. “However, I think we all know that many, many people on both sides of the political spectrum do it here and throughout the United States. Further, it has a long history in American politics. Ben Franklin and Thomas Paine are some very famous examples of it in the past.

“I have always found Richard to be a very trustworthy person. And I continue to believe he is a very honest, trustworthy and committed person.

“I cannot comment on what the NCJ says, because I do not know enough about it or in what context the statements attributed to Richard were made.”

Kerrigan also commented on Salzman’s deception.

“Writing letters under a false name is wrong and jeopardizes public trust,” said Kerrigan. “I hope Richard Salzman realizes this and this practice will cease in the future.”

According to California Penal Code 538a, “Every person who signs any letter addressed to a newspaper with the name of a person other than himself and sends such letter to a newspaper, or causes it to be sent to such newspaper, with intent to lead the newspaper to believe that such letter was written by the person whose name is signed thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

When the Penal Code provides that the offense is a misdemeanor, it means a person could receive up to six months in county jail per conviction, according to Wes Keat, assistant district attorney.

“I cannot and do not condone unlawful conduct,” Gallegos said later in the day in an e-mail. “Nor do I condone deceit.”

On June 29, The Eureka Reporter published a guest opinion titled “Same-sex marriage is simply wrong” from Jacques Jacoby.

Although a phone number to confirm the authenticity of the writer was given and called by staff at the time, it is now clear that this letter was written using a false name.

The number left by “Jacques Jacoby” was the phone number for a business owned by Warren Tindall.

When contacted Thursday, Tindall said that he has written letters to the editor using the name Jacques Jacoby. Tindall did not want people to know that it was him writing the letters.

He admitted that his latest letter, titled “Anti-American activity is wrong” was printed in the Times-Standard on Thursday.

The Eureka Reporter will continue to investigate suspicious e-mails. Like the North Coast Journal, The Eureka Reporter confirmed that Salzman sent e-mails, including those under his own name and that of R. Trent Williams and Dick Wyatt from the same Internet protocol address.

It will now be the policy of The Eureka Reporter to require photo identification for guest columnists.

The newspaper will run a guest opinion column from the same person a maximum of once every three months.

Letters to the editor require a name, daytime phone number and address. Letters from the same person will be allowed once every two weeks.

The Eureka Reporter was unable to reach Salzman for a comment before deadline.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.