◼ Fundraiser set for Allison Jackson
The Times-Standard
Posted: 05/07/2010 01:15:14 AM PDT
An event at the Samoa Mansion is being held in support of Allison Jackson, candidate for district attorney. Enjoy appetizers, dinner and a blackjack tournament with prizes.
The event is Saturday, May 15th, at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, please contact Debbie Quigley at 840-9525.
8.18.2010
Election Roundup: Humboldt DA candidate Allison Jackson to host meet and greet
◼ Election Roundup: Humboldt DA candidate Allison Jackson to host meet and greet
Humboldt County District Attorney candidate Allison Jackson will host a meet-and-greet event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight at Avalon Restaurant and Bar, 239 G St. in Eureka.
The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres and coffee, as well as a no-host bar. Jackson will be on hand to meet voters and answer their questions.
Jackson, who is currently a partner in the Eureka-based Harland Law Firm, worked in Humboldt, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara county district attorney offices.
Election Roundup runs on a regular basis during the election season. Submissions are subject to editing. To submit information for the Election Roundup, send an e-mail to editor@times-standard.com with the word “politics” in the subject line.
Humboldt County District Attorney candidate Allison Jackson will host a meet-and-greet event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight at Avalon Restaurant and Bar, 239 G St. in Eureka.
The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres and coffee, as well as a no-host bar. Jackson will be on hand to meet voters and answer their questions.
Jackson, who is currently a partner in the Eureka-based Harland Law Firm, worked in Humboldt, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara county district attorney offices.
Election Roundup runs on a regular basis during the election season. Submissions are subject to editing. To submit information for the Election Roundup, send an e-mail to editor@times-standard.com with the word “politics” in the subject line.
TS - Gallegos, Jackson running neck-and-neck for Humboldt County DA: Runoff seems likely
◼ Gallegos, Jackson running neck-and-neck for Humboldt County DA: Runoff seems likely
Salzman and Gallegos in pic
While the race to become Humboldt County's next district attorney was too close to call at the Times-Standard's deadline Tuesday, it appears challenger Allison Jackson is headed toward a runoff with two-term incumbent Paul Gallegos.
Based on early returns -- with about 62 percent of precincts reporting and 25,422 votes counted -- Jackson and Gallegos were running neck-and-neck, with 37 and 39 percent of the vote, respectively. Hagen was running a distant third, with less than 19 percent of the vote.
The race initially saw three challengers looking to unseat Gallegos: Jackson, Paul Hagen and Kathleen Bryson, who withdrew from the race in April but whose name still appeared on the ballot. As of late Tuesday night, it appeared none of the candidates was going to receive the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win the election outright and avoid a runoff in November.
Even after having withdrawn from the election months ago, Bryson received about 5 percent of the early vote.
With less than half of precincts reporting, Jackson said in a phone conversation from a joint election night event held with Sheriff candidate Mike Downey that she was still waiting for McKinleyville and Fortuna precincts to report, which she believed would swing in her favor.
”I'm guardedly optimistic,” she said. “But, I feel really, really good.”
From his campaign party at Gabriel's restaurant in Old Town Eureka, Gallegos too said he was feeling confident as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night.
”We feel really good,” he said. “I would say no real surprises, but however it plays out, it plays out. The night is still young.”
At his campaign headquarters, surrounded by a handful of supporters as the first returns came in Tuesday night, Hagen struck a more somber note, saying he was proud of the positive campaign he ran, even though he conceded it was unlikely he would make up the votes necessary to move forward to a runoff in November.
”I made my peace either way before tonight,” Hagen said.
Hagen, who made his name as an environmental prosecutor, served as a circuit prosecutor under the Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Project of the California District Attorneys Association trying environmental cases in Humboldt, Del Norte and Lake counties. After spending his recent years working with the local firm of Bragg, Perlman, Russ, Stunich and Eads, Hagen decided to run for district attorney, promising to bring a new level of professionalism to the office and to rein in the practice of plea bargaining.
Jackson, who spent a decade working as a deputy district attorney in Humboldt County until leaving the office in June 2004, has spent recent years working as a partner in Eureka's Harland Law Firm, where she has handled a wide variety of civil cases.
On the campaign trail, Jackson has been sharply critical of Gallegos, saying he has failed as an administrator and essentially has been soft on crime by allowing some “mind-boggling” plea bargains to occur on his watch. If elected, Jackson contended that she has the experience to properly supervise and mentor the office's deputy district attorneys, that she would cut down on plea bargains and protect victims' rights.
Gallegos, who was first elected to the office in 2002, has maintained on the campaign trail that his office has done good work -- work that he'd like to continue. He said that he has helped bring his office into the 21st century by updating its records systems and revamping its investigative unit. The office, Gallegos said, has also won some big cases and put a host of violent, dangerous offenders behind bars.
Both Jackson and Gallegos said they made no final campaign push Tuesday, and instead spent their days at work and doing other things.
”It went to jury at 7 a.m. (Tuesday) morning,” Jackson said.
__________
At a Glance: Preliminary results with 62 percent of precincts reporting
Paul Gallegos: 39 percent
Allison Jackson: 37 percent
Paul Hagen: 19 percent
Kathleen Bryson: 5 percent
________________________
While the race to become Humboldt County's next district attorney was too close to call at the Times-Standard's deadline Tuesday, it appears challenger Allison Jackson is headed toward a runoff with two-term incumbent Paul Gallegos.
Based on early returns -- with about 62 percent of precincts reporting and 25,422 votes counted -- Jackson and Gallegos were running neck-and-neck, with 37 and 39 percent of the vote, respectively. Hagen was running a distant third, with less than 19 percent of the vote.
The race initially saw three challengers looking to unseat Gallegos: Jackson, Paul Hagen and Kathleen Bryson, who withdrew from the race in April but whose name still appeared on the ballot. As of late Tuesday night, it appeared none of the candidates was going to receive the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win the election outright and avoid a runoff in November.
Even after having withdrawn from the election months ago, Bryson received about 5 percent of the early vote.
With less than half of precincts reporting, Jackson said in a phone conversation from a joint election night event held with Sheriff candidate Mike Downey that she was still waiting for McKinleyville and Fortuna precincts to report, which she believed would swing in her favor.
”I'm guardedly optimistic,” she said. “But, I feel really, really good.”
From his campaign party at Gabriel's restaurant in Old Town Eureka, Gallegos too said he was feeling confident as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night.
”We feel really good,” he said. “I would say no real surprises, but however it plays out, it plays out. The night is still young.”
At his campaign headquarters, surrounded by a handful of supporters as the first returns came in Tuesday night, Hagen struck a more somber note, saying he was proud of the positive campaign he ran, even though he conceded it was unlikely he would make up the votes necessary to move forward to a runoff in November.
”I made my peace either way before tonight,” Hagen said.
Hagen, who made his name as an environmental prosecutor, served as a circuit prosecutor under the Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Project of the California District Attorneys Association trying environmental cases in Humboldt, Del Norte and Lake counties. After spending his recent years working with the local firm of Bragg, Perlman, Russ, Stunich and Eads, Hagen decided to run for district attorney, promising to bring a new level of professionalism to the office and to rein in the practice of plea bargaining.
Jackson, who spent a decade working as a deputy district attorney in Humboldt County until leaving the office in June 2004, has spent recent years working as a partner in Eureka's Harland Law Firm, where she has handled a wide variety of civil cases.
On the campaign trail, Jackson has been sharply critical of Gallegos, saying he has failed as an administrator and essentially has been soft on crime by allowing some “mind-boggling” plea bargains to occur on his watch. If elected, Jackson contended that she has the experience to properly supervise and mentor the office's deputy district attorneys, that she would cut down on plea bargains and protect victims' rights.
Gallegos, who was first elected to the office in 2002, has maintained on the campaign trail that his office has done good work -- work that he'd like to continue. He said that he has helped bring his office into the 21st century by updating its records systems and revamping its investigative unit. The office, Gallegos said, has also won some big cases and put a host of violent, dangerous offenders behind bars.
Both Jackson and Gallegos said they made no final campaign push Tuesday, and instead spent their days at work and doing other things.
”It went to jury at 7 a.m. (Tuesday) morning,” Jackson said.
__________
At a Glance: Preliminary results with 62 percent of precincts reporting
Paul Gallegos: 39 percent
Allison Jackson: 37 percent
Paul Hagen: 19 percent
Kathleen Bryson: 5 percent
________________________
8.03.2010
TS - Myrtletown homicide victim ID'd; officials seeking four for questioning about Santa Clara Street killing
◼ Myrtletown homicide victim ID'd; officials seeking four for questioning about Santa Clara Street killing 6/03/2010
The victim of a killing outside Eureka Tuesday had a long criminal record, including the attempted murder of a 62-year-old man during a burglary in 1991.
The victim of a killing outside Eureka Tuesday had a long criminal record, including the attempted murder of a 62-year-old man during a burglary in 1991.
Humboldt County Coroner Dave Parris identified the man as Jack Dale Sovereign, 38, of Eureka. An autopsy is being scheduled, and investigators are not releasing the preliminary cause of death, saying it could interfere with potential witness statements.
In September 1991, Sovereign entered a house on N Street in Eureka and startled 62-year-old William Naish, who was sleeping on the couch. According to Humboldt County Superior Court documents and news reports from the time, Naish reached for a phone to call police. Sovereign tore the cord from the wall and then repeatedly stabbed Naish with a knife. Naish survived with serious injuries, and police found Sovereign about two blocks from the scene and arrested him.
Sovereign pleaded guilty to attempted murder, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He appealed his plea, claiming that he didn't personally waive his right to a jury trial. The California Court of Appeal denied Sovereign's appeal.
Sovereign had several other felonies on his record, including a 2002 conviction for felony transportation of a controlled substance -- he was sentenced to six years in prison and five years probation. He pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance while on parole in early 2008, and then possession of a controlled substance months later.
The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is also looking for two people of interest in the homicide, and is seeking two others for questioning. Authorities are looking for Katrina Lanai Inong, a 21-year-old American Indian, 5 feet 3 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes; and Ryan Anthony Salas, aka “Stomper,” a 24-year-old American Indian, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. The two have no felony crimes on their records, according to Humboldt County Court records.
The Sheriff's Office also wants to question Sonia Lexion Hunscker, described as American Indian, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 135 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, and Sunny Nix, described only as an American Indian male.
The Sheriff's Office is also attempting to locate two vehicles that may be involved in the incident: a blue or gray 1990 Toyota 4Runner, California license plate 2PNH763, and a blue Ford Ranger with a camper shell.
Deputies responded to a Santa Clara Street residence at 3:28 a.m. Tuesday and found a man, later identified as Sovereign, dead at the scene. Sovereign's body was draped with a white sheet for hours while investigators searched the area. A towel or cloth under Sovereign's head was soaked with what appeared to be blood.
One neighbor described hearing a single gunshot at the time, and a car speed away from the scene. But investigators are withholding details of Sovereign's death. Detective Steve Quenell said Wednesday that investigators want to speak with potential witnesses of the incident to corroborate facts.
”We're still in the process of trying to put the puzzle together,” Quenell said.
Quenell said that authorities had not detained anyone in the case as of late afternoon Wednesday.
John Driscoll can be reached at 441-0504 or jdriscoll@times-standard.com.