My 2 cents on the candidates for Humboldt County District Attorney

To win the DA’s race you need money, you need key endorsements from politicians and funders, you need some support from defense attorneys, you need to get those SoHum votes.

Marijuana has dominated the conversation too much in the DA’s race. I want a DA that will prosecute fairly and also address crimes like child molesters and rapists and other violent crimes.

Allan Dollison: I like Allan as a person. His explanation about the ethics on the State Bar website I accept, but will voters? Based on conversations with his peers, law enforcement and ability to get major endorsers and funders, Allan would be better off throwing his support behind Maggie or Elan.

He cannot win over SoHum. His focus on his military background compared to his legal career can be a problem for some people because it could take away from his time at the office and there are people who will not vote because of their personal feelings on that one issue which I think is a mistake. 

He cannot convince SoHum to get the votes he needs. Whether one likes it or not, that is a key constituency.

Allan may surprise and be in the top 2 in June but that is a very slim chance.

Maggie Fleming: What can I say about Maggie that has not already been said by many. I have wanted her to run for a long time. Personally and professionally Maggie is exemplary. Every testimonial about her is true.

She is respected by her peers and all who know her, you won’t find anyone that will criticize Maggie. She is law enforcement’s top choice. She is heads over shoulders in experience in the courtroom.

I have some concerns about possible team members and those qualms I have shared with Maggie privately. Maggie listened and I appreciate that. 

Will Maggie be able to get the votes in SoHum and Arcata? Other than that the race leans so heavily in her favor.

Being law enforcement’s top choice can be used against Maggie as it was for Worth Dikeman and Allison Jackson. Defense attorneys may say one thing publically but will Maggie be able to get enough of those votes?

There were some people in the past elections that let their ego as lead team members hurt both Worth and Allison by not including people who have actual experience winning elections. I hope that Maggie’s team will not make that mistake.

Elan Firpo: I was initially very hard on Elan in my posts. To her credit, she was very gracious when I apologized. As I observed her in the courtroom for the past few months and at many events, I changed my mind about her as a person and candidate. 

She is a candidate who listens very carefully to feedback without getting defensive.

 A criticism has been made that she only has a few years of experience as an attorney. How many years did Paul have when he was elected? Candidates running against Paul have criticized his management style and his focus on what cases to prosecute.  Elan has the business experience that no one else does. She has some good ideas like using interns which is a good use of resources. Elan has been out campaigning and walking and meeting people for a few months before anyone else. She told me when I met her a few months ago that while she has advisors, she is aware that certain people are polarizing and she does not want that in her campaign. I like that. Elan is the one candidate that I feel will appeal to conservatives, progressives, SoHum and diverse constituencies. She has been at more events than any other candidate from Trinidad to Shelter Cove.

She has been doing what a political candidate should: raising money, getting endorsements, putting a team together and most important, meeting people.

Salzman, Paul can be a big baggage for Elan and will cost her more votes than they can get.

Arnie Klein: The one thing I agree with Hank Sims and other people familiar with campaigns is that Arnie Klein has no chance nor should he be in this race. Arnie was the first candidate to announce.  I did not even want to write about him but his behavior has shown me he is someone I would not trust and I don’t feel he is someone who can be objective. Some comments about him are personal.  Well, I don’t like being used by someone.

He asked for my help before he announced. I met with him. I arranged for him to meet with people that could help him. Arnie told me that he could not get any and especially key endorsements or raise funds on his own. I told him that was a problem. That was an issue and is still an issue. If you cannot inspire confidence in funders or endorsers, how will you get votes to win a campaign?

Arnie has not shown up for several campaign and community events, and when he does, someone has to tell him. What is his excuse.? Unlike the others who work, he is retired.

He has no idea what the issues and key players are in politics or the community. Again, he had to be told. He did a My Word without researching the article or facts.  His campaign staff consists of his friends and a local comedian and his girlfriend. Nice people but hardly a campaign team.

He told me he would run a clean campaign. He told me there would be no hard feelings if I chose not to support him. I have not heard from him once he was done using me. He is the only candidate that has not expressed sympathy to me for the loss of Fr. Freed. He yelled at me at a Chamber event when I was trying to tell him that comments he made to me were showing up on blogs. The exact words. And he should look into it. May not be him, I said.  I was trying to help. He has yet to apologize.

In private, Arnie and people close to him have expressed comments about both Maggie and Elan that are unrelated to them being elected to this office. This is information that they know because they worked together, and it is a low blow if it will be used in a campaign. And based on Arnie's unprofessionalism in the way he has conducted himself so far, that is a good possibility.

Arnie may get some marijuana votes and those of his friends. If he really wants the best for the DA’s office, like Chris Lehman, Arnie should leave the race.

Two of his friends (who I also know) told me not to publish the Chamber incident or address some of this publically. I have kept everything said to me in confidence in other instances, but voters need to know the character of the candidates.

I will also remind Arnie  that just because someone shakes your hand and is nice to your face does not mean they do not share my views.

There have also been some comments about Maggie and Elan on the blogs that are vitriolic and false. At least 2 of them from people who said the exact words to me. If people want to go around attacking and spreading falsehoods, then anons be prepared to have your name revealed. People who support a candidate can take lessons from Mr. Max Cardoza,  that is how you comment and represent the candidate of your choice.

Supervisor Estelle Fennell’s endorsement is key in this race. Whichever candidate she supports will have the backing and coalition in SoHum that help put Estelle in office.

Funders and politicians’ support is crucial but that does not win an election. The candidate that can win the voter's heart and the candidate that has an organized walking strategy with a loyal team that covers diverse constituencies can overcome money and dirty tactics.

My prediction is that the race, based on what I have seen so far, assuming people vote privately as they have shared with me, is that Humboldt County will elect a female District Attorney. My top 2 choices are Maggie and Elan.