Campaign mailers against Assembly candidate Janet Barnes that
accuse her of cutting cops while gang violence climbed in Salinas
came under fire Wednesday from Barnes and Salinas Mayor Dennis
Donohue, along with other supporters.
Larry Parsons
Campaign mailers against Assembly candidate Janet Barnes that accuse her of cutting cops while gang violence climbed in Salinas came under fire Wednesday from Barnes and Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue, along with other supporters.
Accompanied by a dozen supporters, including several Salinas and Watsonville firefighters, Barnes characterized the mailers as “negative attacks” being made by people “who don’t know us and don’t know our concerns.”
Barnes, a 12-year Salinas City Council member, is running against Watsonville Mayor Luis Alejo for the Democratic nomination in the 28th Assembly District on June 8.
The primary contest likely will decide who wins the heavily Democratic district in the November general election, and the high stakes are producing an increasingly fractious primary.
Both Alejo and Barnes have lodged complaints about independent groups supporting the other.
One group backing Barnes accused Alejo’s campaign of violating campaign finance rules – an allegation under investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission – and produced a television commercial calling Alejo reckless for having racked up nine traffic tickets since he was a teenager.
Alejo said: “I don’t support any negative attack ads, period. Voters should have a choice and deal with the facts.”
At least two groups supporting Alejo have sent mailers to district voters highlighting Salinas’ record-breaking 29 homicides in 2009 and a March vote by Barnes that allegedly cut police and firefighter hours.
One of those mailers spurred Wednesday’s news conference in front of the Salinas police station.
Barnes and her supporters said the mailer, which includes a worried-looking elderly woman peeking out a window and a young Latino male flashing a gang sign, is misleading, false, inexcusable and playing to paranoia and racial stereotypes.
Donohue said Barnes has been “a key contributor” in a comprehensive strategy to reduce the gang violence, which has plagued Salinas for 50 years.
Councilman Steve Villegas said, “It’s so far from the truth that I’m just astounded.”
The mailer, produced by an independent committee for Service Employees International Union Local 521, alleges that Barnes voted in March to cut police officers’ hours as Salinas gang violence climbed “out of control.”
Barnes acknowledged that the March vote, which passed by a 6-1 margin, was a “budget framework” that calls for possible elimination of vacant police and fire positions. But she said no decision is final, adding, “It would be the very, very last degree, if I ever vote to cut police.”
Jerry Jimenez, a spokesman for SEIU Local 521, said in a prepared statement that the ad contained “factual information that voters have a right to know. Janet Barnes showed bad judgment by supporting cutting police officers and eliminating after-school programs.”
Barnes has trumpeted her endorsements by police and firefighter unions in Salinas as well as the Watsonville firefighters union.
Alejo said he was targeted by another television ad and mailers put out by independent groups backing Barnes that “allege I am taking tobacco money. The mailers are false and misleading, putting my image on a packet of cigarettes.”
Independent groups and statewide groups are heavy supporters of both Alejo and Barnes.
Barnes has received support from four independent groups that pumped about $380,000 into the race, while Alejo has been supported by three independent groups spending about $103,000, according to state campaign records.
Both candidates are receiving contributions to their own campaigns at a brisk pace, mostly from statewide interest groups.
Major contributors to Alejo’s campaign during the past 10 days include Plumbers, Steamfitters and Refrigeration Fitters Local 393, $7,800; California Labor Federation, $7,800; and California Correctional Peace Officers Association, $3,900.
Big contributions to Barnes in recent days include the California Hospital Association, $3,500; Associated General Contractors, $2,000; and United Services Automobile Association, $3,000.
Gilroy school board member Francisco Dominguez is also running on the Democratic ticket, though the contest between Alejo and Barnes is receiving the most attention.
