Kathleen Herrera just qualified for the 5th ward.
4 p.m. update.
Drop out Daniel Smith has thankfully not qualified. Second time dud.
This is the official list for Eureka City Council from City of Eureka Assistant Manager and Clerk Pam Powell at 4:15.
City of Eureka Assistant Manager Pam Powell cannot release information until paperwork with signatures are turned in to her. I already reported from sources Daniel Smith took paperwork out for Ward 5. So has one other person. Tomorrow 4 p.m. is the deadline.
"I heard a little birdie inform me that Daniel Smith is running, again, for City Council Ward 5. He was spotted at City Hall today. "
If Daniel Smith had submitted his form with signatures, I would know. If he had qualified, I definitely know.
That does not mean this tip is not valid. I will check with City of Eureka Assistant Manager and Clerk Pam Powell tomorrow.
If you did not read the previous posts, you can check them for Daniel Smith's Humboldt Superior Court search I did and this is what I wrote in one of my previous posts.
"It was only after my post exposing you and the couple of people endorsing you on Facebook which include a failed Eureka Council candidate who is MAGA and extremely far right in his views that you now claim to be "center right." I know that individual personally. Your political affiliation isn't a disqualification for me but your attitude and manipulating the public instead of answering specifics you have yet to provide. Are you going to attack any local media who isn't favorable to you?"
Flip flopping on views, dropping out, now maybe running again. When I said, I hope someone runs for Ward 5, I meant someone new and electable.
8/6/26: As of 10:08 a.m. today, while Smith's 501 is still valid, he has not returned any signatures.
Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel running for re-election is not news. July 13 was the first day for City of Eureka candidates could submit the nomination papers. As, of 3:32 p.m. Mayor Bergel is the only one to submit signatures to City of Eureka Assistant Manager and Clerk Pam Powell.
Former Eureka City Councilmember Jeff Leonard has not filed any paperwork so his announcement and intention to run for Ward 5 means bupkis. I was told by someone plans to challenge Bergel and will run as an independent. This is the first time this person has given me a tip so I have no idea how credible it is; usually I hear from people involved in the business and political community who have provided me credible tips in the past.
No one has heard of this mystery candidate for Mayor which usually means it is a Daniel Smith type that no one takes seriously or has any real support or endorsement.
501 forms from Audra Sisson, Victor Garcia and Jason McCutcheon, all candidates for Ward 1, who have announced intentions means nothing.
Daniel Smith's "official" site is still up but no link to his Facebook page. Official is his the word on his site; not mine.
Daniel's short lived non campaign was not even a blip on the radar. I did not see anyone report on Daniel ending his campaign. It was brought to my attention almost a month later.
The spin about no formal backing sounds nice but the blunt truth is you had no money and no endorsements because nothing was listed on your site. You have no paperwork to prove that claim.
Even if someone believes you; I don't; if there were people were willing to "back" you; they wised up quickly. You never had a chance. All someone had to do was watch you speak at Eureka Council meetings.
The 5th Ward has a Councilmember who is decent. If someone wants to run against her; they should. I am just glad it isn't you.
Which family law case are you talking about Daniel? There is more than one. Did your "backers" do any research?. These are the search results for your name and this is just in Humboldt Superior Court.
Please move Daniel. That is one gift you could give Eureka and California. Since you are such a "fan"; could you please move to a state I don't like or may move to in the future? Humboldt has made me very allergic to braggarts.
These are my previous posts on Daniel Smith.
Daniel, here is your 15 seconds of fame which you obviously are desperate for.
Anyone who does not follow proper procedure and messages me on messenger is blocked or ignored; that is if I even see the message. Daniel Smith who does not even have a phone number on his campaign website thinks yelling at Eureka City Council members, having a Facebook site and disparaging me is the way to get what?
If you were professional and had a team, who you have not disclosed, you would have sent a press release out to all media before your joke of a Facebook page and theatrics at a Eureka City Council meeting.
Daniel I reported from your website, election paperwork and I don't need you to lecture me on journalism or politics. Unlike you, I have worked on winning campaigns in Humboldt, outside Humboldt, reported in Humboldt and outside Humboldt and I get results. I am not obligated to reach out to any Tom, Dick, Harry, Jane or some idiot who thinks a Facebook page entitles you to contact; let alone free press.
It was only after my post exposing you and the couple of people endorsing you on Facebook which include a failed Eureka Council candidate who is MAGA and extremely far right in his views that you now claim to be "center right." I know that individual personally. Your political affiliation isn't a disqualification for me but your attitude and manipulating the public instead of answering specifics you have yet to provide. Are you going to attack any local media who isn't favorable to you?
You have nothing to offer Eureka. You have not proved you can get endorsements or money. If there is anyone backing you or Jason McCutcheon, neither of you are transparent.
Unlike you Daniel, I am busy, I work 24/7. I have volunteered, used my own money to benefit the community. And this includes many in Humboldt who are ungrateful, abusive, grumpy because they are used to being bullies, getting their way, doing shoddy work.
From the courts to politics to business, the cliquey incompetence exposed are haters who should have been called out and exposed by the decades old media who were in Humboldt before I moved to this hell. Those who gossip behind my back and glare at me at the Courthouse reveal themselves for who they are.
If you had proved to be a serious challenger, I would have reached out to you. The Eureka City Council elections are in November 2026.
You and many in Eureka do not understand business. After years of negative loss and lack of investment from people who expect a lot and for free; I spend my time focusing on those who invest and appreciate.
I have to do an impossible, thankless job without adequate compensation, constant hate and abuse from toxic Humboldt and distractions from entitled dime a dozen locals like you. Humboldt in a global and national news environment with many options isn't profitable. It is a choice to do local news.
You can crawl back in the hole you came from and get your publicity elsewhere. For the last several elections, the community and those who have power and money know who the people trust and read. Even my critics.
The choices right now for Ward 5 are incumbent Renee Contreras-DeLoach and you. And you are not an option. However to win, Renee has to put in the work and not take voters for granted.
Humboldt and Eureka will remain stagnant and depressing because there are too many people like you Daniel who think a Facebook account means your 1 cent opinion matters. No one gives a damn about those sitting on Facebook or online commenting 24/7 when you have done nothing and contributed nothing.
For change, people have to get out and be involved, take on the failed leadership and power which has kept Humboldt and Eureka from prospering. There are those who do and contribute; and there are those leeches like you who attack.
As I have said before; if I was not effective; people would not attack. So Daniel, ignoring me would have been smart. But, you and many in Humboldt have already proved opinions are like...
Leslie Castellano Eureka City Councilmember is termed out but Eureka City Councilmember Ward 1 has a candidate, Jason McCutcheon. Daniel Smith who is challenging Ward 5 incumbent Eureka Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach is McCutcheon's FB friend.
McCutcheon's 501 form shows middle initials as A.W. There is a traffic case is Humboldt Superipr Court for a Jason Allen Wayne McCutcheon. Can't verify if people do not list their full names to compare. Also McCutcheon has yet to qualify or be a serious candidate, the City of Eureka elections are in November 2026. I am not spending time nor providing free information to any potential challenger. It is McCutcheon's job and if he has a campaign team or backers to consider potential issues.
McCutcheon has either scrubbed or restricted his fb page so more later. Many Facebook profiles for Jason McCutcheon in Eureka and Humboldt County. With no photos, no middle name, which Jason McCutcheon filled out Form 501? Could be none of these.
Daniel Smith finally filed a candidate statement intention statement after my last post. It tells me nothing. He has a Facebook page which tells me nothing and now a website with some feel good, generic stuff but no specifics on how he plans to be different and achieve results.
A cookie cutter site with not much on it. It does tell me he is running as a Republican. I found two Facebook posts from Anthony Mantova and David Collenberg. No endorsers yet. Let's see if he can raise money.
Smith also does not know how to fill a form. He is not a state candidate.
If he is supported by the same failed Eureka "conservative", "Republican" or "non partisan" candidates of the past and the Make America Parking Lots Again crowd; I will pass. They need to step aside and let new conservative voices be heard that understand how to win and not alienate people and actually offer a change to all of Eureka and not just their buddies.
I don't care about your party affiliation. I like decent people, who listen, even to criticism; people who don't always vote as predicted and those who stand up to the Humboldt cabal for the good of the people.
"Never heard of that guy" is a response I got from several conservatives. Before he showed up to yell at Eureka City Council, neither had I.
This is a related post on Ward 5 Eureka Council November 2026 election.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2025/12/it-isnt-official-until-paperwork-is.html?m=1
I posted yesterday about Ward 5 incumbent Renee Contreras-DeLoach running for re-election.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/01/ward-5-incumbent-eureka-councilmember.html?m=1
It isn't official until paperwork is filed. I have contacted Eureka Assistant City Manager Pam Powell about Daniel Smith and she has not received any completed paperwork from him as of 4:40 p.m. today.
So far Smith has a Facebook page and there was a reference at Eureka City Council town hall that he is running for the 5th Ward. I just did a post on December 5 and as of that date, no one had submitted paperwork for Eureka City Council positions for June 2026.
He served on the Civil Grand Jury and wrote a book. That's nice. It tells me nothing about his policies or ideas on why he is qualified to be on Eureka City Council.His behavior at the Eureka City Council meeting is a turnoff and should be for any voter with a brain. Even if he files paperwork, let's see his fundraising capabilities and if he gets support.
Current Eureka Councilmember for Ward 5 is Renee Contreras-DeLoach. I reached out to her.
"At this time I have no comment about running for re-election. I am focused on serving the 5th Ward constituents and as most people, preparing for the holidays."
I am in Councilmember DeLoach's Ward. I have dealt with her as a member of the press and constituent. She doesn't allow Eureka Manager Miles Slattery to control her and that for me is a plus.
Humboldt County District Attorney Stacey Eads completed her review of the investigation regarding the January 22, 2024, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Officer-involved shooting of 43-year-old Daniel Danny Martinez. DA Eads concluded the shooting was legally justified, in that the actions of Deputy Johnathan Waxler and Deputy Colton Ross complied with California Penal Code Section 835a. Martinez’s family has been notified of her findings and legal determination.
The Humboldt County DA's office just issued a lengthy press release which is included in the post. I have also included the link tothe press release by the City of Eureka posted on January 24, 2024.
Two weeks after DA rejected the recent arrest report for local attorney Callie Buck domestic violence arrest, she was arrested again by HCSO last night for PC 273.6(a), violation of a protective order. Bail is $25,000.
Based on her history and frequent arrests, is another Sean Lundy and Analia Martinez? Law enforcement resources keep being wasted on people who repeatedly ignore court orders. In Humboldt, there are zero consequences for violating a court order, just as there are for sex offenders who fail to register. Buck is an attorney and she is thumbing her nose at a court order? And the mental health diversion bs for repeat offenders is overused in Humboldt and does not keep the public or the alleged victims safe.
I have previously covered local attorney Callie Buck's court cases. The last arrest by HCSO for PC 273.5 (a) domestic and PC 1203.2(a) probation violation was the one the DA rejected and did not file charges for and here she is in custody again. Unofficially, I was told that the alleged victim for the July arrest was her boyfriend but since no charges were filed; that could not be confirmed. That tip came from someone with direct knowledge about Buck.
I received a second tip about Buck's boyfriend with some court records provided. I have lookef up more court records myself.
"Here is a tip for you. Ms. Buck's boyfriend is Daniel Dowd, who also got arrested last night for a DV. Mr. Dowd is also her client in a child custody case. Buck also represented Dowd in a Civil Harassment case."
After reading the 4/16 order issued by Judge Timothy Canning, what more do we not know about Bruce Smith?
Smith sued his former employer, Premier Financial Services. There was a motion for attorney fees requested by Smith's current attorney Ms. Cyndy Day-Wilson for$42, 900 and $7,700 for Smith's previous attorney Daniel Blomgren. That motion was denied by Judge Canning.
All of Smith's "personal files were returned to him, with the exception of any pornographic material" Read the entire 3 page order by Judge Canning.
Smith did not have to file this lawsuit. Now, I question Smith's request to seal records given that his personal files contained pornographic material. He dragged a well known local business to court for something that could have been resolved privately.
Smith was represented by Cyndy Day-Wilson. Premier Financial Services by Harland Law Firm's Mr. Richard Smith.
Bruce Smith, a shareholder and former employee sued Premier Financial Group for alleged discrepancies regarding payouts.
Remember the lawsuit filed by James Acres against Blue Lake Casino that you never heard about after some initial coverage, including by Lost Coast Outpost.
There was an appeal and a ruling. I have included the 2021 update in this post.
The Blumberg link is from 2018 and was not reported locally. Was it because it was not favorable to the defendants?
