A
”
misleading
”
campaign mailer
– sent out this week – has prompted criticism from the county’s
Republican leaders as the local committee doesn’t support six of
the recommendations as it implies.
A “misleading” campaign mailer – sent out this week – has prompted criticism from the county’s Republican leaders as the local committee doesn’t support six of the recommendations as it implies.
The mailer that states ‘”Voting guide for Republicans” highlights 17 candidates and propositions, but the party does not support several of the recommended candidates or items, said Marvin Jones, chairman of the San Benito County Republican Party.
But those campaign mailers are legal, according to the state government code.
“It’s a legitimate piece – they put it out every election,” Jones said. “It’s perfectly legal but it’s misleading.”
Jones lists the recommendations of county sheriff and state treasurer as two of the misleading portions of the flier. Under the headline of “Voting guide for Republicans,” Democrats Undersheriff Pat Turturici and Bill Lockyer are listed.
Those “slate” mailers, meanwhile, also tend to allow misleading statements associated with candidates, who must pay for and authorize the recommendations, according to the flier.
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, Darren Thompson, has been a law enforcement officer for 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.
Turturici’s campaign manager, Rick Rivas, said he had not known about the flier that went out this week.
Rivas clarified Turturici is “the only candidate with local law enforcement” experience.
“We all know that Darren has law enforcement experience,” Rivas said.
Other items the local Republican Party disagreed with are the mailer’s recommendations for propositions 20, 27, 21 and 23, Jones said.
In the flier’s small print it states that the organizer is not part of a party affiliation and an appearance in the mailer “does not necessarily imply endorsement of others appearing” in the campaign literature. The document also states an appearance in the mailer is “paid for and authorized” by each candidate.
Despite disagreeing with the recommendations outlined on the document, Jones realizes it happens every year.
“It’s a name-recognition thing,” Jones said. “If one is sent to Democrats, Republicans need to get on it. It goes both ways.”
The fliers are not something new and are just a simple way to do advertising, county elections official Joe Paul Gonzalez said.
“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.”
To be legal within the state, they must disclose where the flier is coming from – the California Voter Guide, and not a particular party, put the flier together.
Gonzalez explained that it is basic advertising and the parties of each candidate have no bearing on their appearance in the document.
Gavilan Community College Board of Trustees candidate Tony Ruiz’s appearance in the flier was something he had to do despite not liking the system, he said.
“We play by the rules that are given to us,” he said “But it is not healthy for democracy.”
Ruiz said he hoped voters would look at a wide variety of information before voting, instead of just the flier.
“Voters should know better than to believe all the literature they receive,” he said.
Despite the document being misleading– it is legal and nothing can be done, Jones said.
“Can’t do much more,” Jones said. “They did everything by the book.”
Recommendations contrasting SBC Republicans’ views:
Sheriff – Pat Turturici; Republican Party endorses Darren Thompson
Treasurer – Bill Lockyer; SBCRP endorses Mimi Walters
Proposition 20 – No; SBCP recommends Yes
Proposition 27 – Yes; SBCP recommends No
Proposition 21 – Yes; SBCP recommends No
Proposition 23 – No; SBCRP recommends Yes
