Another
”
paid-advertisement
”
style, election flier was sent out to local voters this week,
this time targeting Democrats, leading to criticism from the local
party’s leaders in light of complaints from San Benito County
Republicans after a similar flier went out weeks ago.
Another “paid-advertisement” style, election flier was sent out to local voters this week, this time targeting Democrats, leading to criticism from the local party’s leaders in light of complaints from San Benito County Republicans after a similar flier went out weeks ago.
To be legal within the state and election rules, the fliers must disclose where they’re coming from. In the Democrat mailer it states that its origins are from the “Voter information guide”
Despite being a paid advertisement, the flier’s only contradiction with one of the local Democrat Party’s views is the local sheriff’s race.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” San Benito County Democrat Party Chairwoman Jeanie Wallace said.
Only two candidates in the flier paid for space in the mailer, supervisor candidate Jerry Muenzer and sheriff candidate Darren Thompson. However, Thompson is the only recommendation the party disagrees with. Those who paid for an appearance in the flier are noted with an asterisk. Thompson, a Watsonville police lietenant, is facing Undersheriff Pat Turturici in the race for sheriff. The county Democratic Party has endorsed Turturici.
All of the proposition recommendations were paid for, according to the document, but all of them agree with the Democrats’ views.
“Almost everything lines up with the official Democratic Party – the only difference is in the local sheriff’s race,” Wallace said.
On the front of the flier it states “Voter information guide for Democrats.” The document goes on to say that it was not published by an “official party organization.” On its front, is a picture of gubernatorial candidate and Democrat representative Jerry Brown.
But the bigger picture is the existence of such fliers, Wallace said.
“My worry is that people don’t take them as paid advertising but as their party’s actual recommendations,” she said. “… The bigger issue is that people shouldn’t look at this at all. It’s a worthless piece of junk mail.”
Last week, county elections official Joe Paul Gonzalez described the mailer as legal and something that happens every year.
“A lot of companies do this on behalf of the candidates,” Gonzalez said. “They really are quite common. They get candidates to pay for advertising and they send it out to target voters.”
Despite being legal, Wallace hopes voters will just throw the document in the recycle bin, regardless of what party they involve themselves with, she said.
“I hope people realize this junk mail,” she said.
In the “slate” mailer sent to local Republicans, and drawing the party’s criticism, there were six recommendations contradicting the county GOP’s stances. One of those was the race for sheriff. The local party endorsed Thompson, while the slate included Turturici’s ad.
Under Turturici’s name, it notes: “The only candidate with law enforcement experience” and goes on to say he is supported by the sheriff and “every local public safety group.”
Turturici’s opponent in the race for sheriff, Thompson, has been a law enforcement officer with the Watsonville Police Department for 22 years. Additionally, some public safety agencies have supported Turturici at points of his campaign, but not all of the local groups have backed him.
In the Democrat flier, Thompson’s description states “Police Lieutenant. Requires good character from staff, has field and administrative experience, and is committed to our community.”
Democrat Party recommendations
Sheriff – Pat Turturici
Prop 20 – No
Prop 21 – Yes
Prop 22 – No
Prop 23 – No
Prop 24 – Yes
Prop 25 – Yes
Prop 26 – No
Prop 27 – Yes
