It’s Sarsfield, Cantu and Hooper
– again
The race for San Benito County District Attorney will feature
the same three choices voters had in 2002: John Sarsfield, now the
incumbent, defense attorney Art Cantu and deputy prosecutor Candace
Hooper. Candidates have until March 8 to file their notice of
intention to run.
As of Wednesday, Hooper and Cantu had pulled papers at the
election’s office, but D.A. Sarsfield had yet to do so, but he has
told The Pinnacle that he intends to run.
It’s Sarsfield, Cantu and Hooper – again
The race for San Benito County District Attorney will feature the same three choices voters had in 2002: John Sarsfield, now the incumbent, defense attorney Art Cantu and deputy prosecutor Candace Hooper. Candidates have until March 8 to file their notice of intention to run.
As of Wednesday, Hooper and Cantu had pulled papers at the election’s office, but D.A. Sarsfield had yet to do so, but he has told The Pinnacle that he intends to run.
In the 2002 election, the campaigns waged between Cantu and Sarsfield turned savage and personal. Cantu attacked Sarsfield’s character and made claims that he was unable to substantiate. When Cantu made negative public comments regarding Sarsfield’s wife, Sarsfield started flinging mud back. It was soon discovered that Cantu’s own family picture was not as rosy as the attorney would have the voters think. He was embroiled in a messy divorce.
Sarsfield won by a landslide, grabbing more than 71 percent of the vote.
This year, said Cantu, things will be different.
“I was a rookie last time and I’ve learned a lot from the last campaign,” Cantu said. “The community wants a candidate whose No. 1 issue is the threat of gang violence. Anything else is insignificant. Gang members don’t care about politic infighting.”
Hooper, the only woman in the race so far, is a deputy D.A. in Sarsfield’s office, and also worked in that capacity for the previous county D.A., Harry Damkar. She came in third during the 2002 primary and was therefore eliminated from the General Election in November. Local politic watchers are opining she might have a better chance this year because voters fed up with the ongoing war waged between Sarsfield and Cantu, despite the election having been decided three years ago, might compel citizens to seek the alternative, which would be Hooper.
Hooper did not return several phone messages.
Cantu kept an upbeat attitude about the campaign ahead of him, and speculated about his role as D.A.
“We need to get together, the entire county, and work together,” Cantu said. “I have a passion for criminal law and I look forward to getting into that court room and going after this rising gang threat. That’s what I’m good at.”
